Manchester United played Chelsea last night under a cloud of uncertainty in their management position. I didn't know what to expect from the team and with the team coming into the match lacking confidence, in such poor run of form, under a lot of pressure and with such uncertainty at the club, I feared the worse. Chelsea were beleaguered too. They have not had an astonishingly poor season as defending league champions but at least they didn't have to deal with the uncertainty United had to face and came into the match under lesser pressure than United having solved their management conundrum before the onset of the busy festive period. They needed points and wins like United but I had a feeling coming into the match, they would be glad to emerge with a point from it.
Therefore it came as a pleasant surprise when United started the match like men possessed, displaying hunger, drive, enthusiasm as well as speed in their play. They attacked freely which I feel was the key difference. Despite being under lots of pressure, the team played like as if they weren't under any pressure. This level of performance didn't last the full match but it was promising for the near future to see United dominate their opponents in such manner. It's a pity and unjust that United couldn't score to win the match. United's luck is in the dumps at the moment. Juan Mata cracked a brilliant effort against the bar, Anthony Martial dribbled to create space and shoot only to see his effort come off the post, Wayne Rooney had unleashed a howitzer in typical Rooney fashion only to see it tipped over by Thibaut Courtois, United had 2 legitimate penalty claims waved away, Courtouis was called upon to perform a miraculous save off Ander Herrera and Rooney blazed over after getting on the end of a great cross from youngster Cameron Bothwick-Jackson. At the opposite end, David De Gea pulled off a great save to deny John Terry and 2 saves in quick succession to deny compatriots Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta. Ironically, United were lucky not to concede to a swift Chelsea counter attack as Nemanja Matic blazed over from a good position.
The draw was greeted by some jeering but I can't imagine it's directed at the manager and team after that performance. It has to be at a result everyone associated to the club didn't need, a 5th 0-0 in the league, 7th in all competitions. This piece of statistic is damning on a club like Manchester United that is famously known for their attacking play and scoring goals. It's part of the club's DNA, pedigree and heritage. I feel United have wasted 2 big opportunities to beat big teams at Old Trafford after drawing 0-0 with Manchester City and Chelsea. Against the former, I felt the team could have done more to win the match while against the latter, United were unlucky. In this run of poor form, one of the biggest problems United have faced is in scoring goals. Draws could gave been converted to wins and defeats converted to draws if United had been more clinical in front of goal. If that had happened, the mood around the club and the esteem of the players would have been very different to what we are witnessing now. On the positive side of things, hopefully the poor run the team has been on will have a galvinising effect on the team and players and they can emerge from this spell stronger and more determined.
It's tough but I really hope United can pull off a major coup in the January transfer market by signing a forward that makes a difference. A big signing would boost the general morale of the squad but realistically, it will be tough to sign anyone of that calibre now unless an opportunity presents itself in the transfer market (for example Eric Cantona and Robin Van Persie) or someone unknown is scouted and taken a chance on (for example Javier Hernandez). This is what the team really needs now even if I do agree that it's almost impossible to achieve in January.
Finally to indulge in a bit of a conspiracy theory. If it's true that Van Gaal would be sacked regardless of the result against Chelsea and Giggs took the the training sessions on the eve of the match, the change in playing style we witnessed yesterday could be the work of Ryan Giggs and not Van Gaal. Van Gaal had a permanent scowl on his face yesterday. He looked to be in foul mood and maybe knows his time at the club is up regardless of his defiant message of not quitting in the post-match interview. It could also be that he is merely upset at the results, performance and treatment by the media. It could also be that the performance yesterday was the result of Van Gaal's instructions and he has given the players more freedom to attack acting on the suggestion of the players in the squad. It's an intriguing sub-plot and story. We will know the truth of the matter in a day or two. In the meantime if the team plays like it did yesterday, the luck is bound to change very soon.
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