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Chelsea ended Manchester United’s six-match winning run thanks to Eden Hazard’s 13th league goal of the season. The Blues who will be crowned champions, if they win two of their remaining matches, started the game on the back foot.Wayne Rooney hit the side netting from 18 yards, but it was Hazard who opened the scoring with the Blues first shot on target after latching onto a back heel from Oscar. Although the visitors enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, it was the Belgian who had the best opportunity of scoring the second goal, as he hit the post from a tight angle following Didier Drogba’s deflected shot.Victory moved the Blues 10 points clear at the top of the table. Here are the five main talking points from the game at Stamford Bridge.
#1 Chelsea will win the league but not many hearts
Earlier in the season, when Diego Costa was scoring goals for fun and Chelsea were battering teams to submission, you almost wondered whether the Blues might suddenly become likeable. But Mourinho's tactics against United and their run of wins by a solitary goal certainly put an end to that idea.
Whether it was bringing Kurt Zouma into midfield or deciding to defend their box once they scored the opener, the Blues tactics spoke of a side who wanted the result and didn't care about how that happened. While it is easy to claim Chelsea's tactics as defensive and boring, there aren't many sides who are capable of holding the fort when an onslaught arrives.
For all of United's possession, they had to resort to pot shots from distance in their bid to score. While games aren't always won by defences, championships are and the hosts certainly have the defence to do just that.
#2 Zouma executes plan to perfection
One of the reasons why United have been on this six-game winning run in the league is because of their ability to overload the left flank. Marouane Fellaini, who has been unplayable as a deep-lying target man met his match in Kurt Zouma. The Frenchman was drafted into this game with just one instruction, stop the Belgian from dominating in the air.
Although Zouma was unable to prevent him from winning most of his aerial duels, he did manage to provide support for Branislav Ivanovic, who was seldom left exposed at the back. The 20-year-old made Fellaini work for every header and kept a close eye on him throughout the game. In doing so, helped contain United's biggest threat and forced them into trying other ways of finding a path to a goal.
#3 Tale of two contrasting No.8
On the right flanks for both sides were two players who you would struggle to describe as wingers. One was sold by Chelsea for not doing his bit defensively and the other was the man who replaced him, mainly because of the aforementioned qualities.
This game clearly highlighted just why Mourinho let Mata go and why Oscar has been one of the first names on the clean sheets. While the Spaniard showed signs of life in the attacking third, it wasn't enough to make Mourinho regret his decision. The Brazilian, however, hassled and harried United's players and made life difficult for them.
Although neither sparkled offensively, Oscar's defensive discipline helped his side contain the threat posed by United on the left flank.On a day when desire and discipline were required, Mata's intricate touches and passes failed to make the difference for the Red Devils.
#4 Hazard makes the difference
While he may not be the side's leading goal scorer or creator, Eden Hazard is without a doubt, Chelsea's most important attacker. In a game of few chances, the Belgian scored one and almost got another and once again reiterated why he deserves to be the PFA Player of the Year.
When the game is so tight and close, you want your best players to go out and make the decisive move. That is precisely what Hazard has done with remarkable consistency this season. And it is that consistency, coupled with his resilience and ability to get back up, despite being one of the most fouled players in the league, which makes him stand out in a side that is not short on attacking quality.
#5 Frustrated Fabregas fails to make an impact
One of the questions that was asked following Fabregas' arrival at Stamford Bridge was whether he could operate as a central attacking midfielder. For much of the season, that question had remained unanswered as he has been playing alongside Matic in central midfield. Mourinho's pragmatism presented the Spaniard with the opportunity to answer it against United.
Although he got little in the way of support from his side, Fabregas didn't have the impact on the game offensively that he would have wanted. With his back to goal, there was none of the silky smooth passing that made him the league leader in assists. Instead, he was isolated and looked like a lamb separated from the herd, chasing shadows and conceding silly free kicks.
But the way in which he defended in the second half, cutting off spaces and opportunities for through balls, will please his manager, who has once again managed to make an offensive player put a shift in for the side.
