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The legend came and he went. Didier Drogba was instrumental here, scoring Chelsea’s opener which was cancelled out by Robin Van Persie in the dying seconds. The ‘Theatre of Dreams’? Old Trafford was momentarily the ‘Theatre of Relief’, wildly celebrating Van Persie’s drilled finish in stoppage time.Here are five talking points from an eventful Premier League encounter at Old Trafford
#1 Drogba anything but finished
A player devoid of his previous brilliance, devoid of the previous mercurial quality which endeared him to Stamford Bridge? Didier Drogba is anything but finished, anything but a player not worth treasuring.
His goal at Old Trafford mirrored his header in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, an eternal leap of great benefits. The Ivorian rose gallantly above a grounded Rafael, heading powerfull beyond the despaired De Gea. He showed too that his footballing intelligence is as refined as ever, his movement, a dart across the disinclined Manchester United resistance and United right-back Rafael, opening up the space to head home Chelsea’s opener.
His return to Chelsea, after spells at Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray, was viewed as a decision taken on the mere basis of sentiment but Mourinho knew what he was getting in Drogba, knew the Ivorian had more than affection to offer. Drogba was a prominent physical presence up front, harrying, in particular, Marcos Rojo and expertly holding up the ball for a compact Chelsea team.
#2 United\'s spirited fightback
United called on their spirit to fight back, the spirit so often visible under the glory years of Sir Alex Ferguson. Grafting, tracking back and acquiescing to the Stretford End’s demands for repeated waves of United attack, United refused to give in, refused to settle for a likely defeat.
After all, it seemed so feasible. Louis Van Gaal, as he was quick to point out post-match, was under no illusions of Chelsea’s solidity when Mourinho’s side glide into the lead, when they are firmly in control.
#3 Common ground must be found in fight against plague
Make no mistake about it. Shirt-pulling is a plague in football that must be fought consistently. A common ground must be met when confronting a plague tainting football.
The most depressing aspect of it, however, is the inconsistency in which referees manage shirt-pulling scenarios, particularly within the confines of the penalty area. It was only last week when Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross was penalised for pulling on the jersey of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony. Mark Hughes moaned about it being a foul rarely penalised and the Welshman’s point is perfectly penalty.
At Old Trafford on Sunday, Phil Dowd was oblivious to two blatant examples of shirt-pulling, both fouls occuring when the same set-piece was being contested. Marcos Rojo wrestled John Terry to the turf while Chris Smalling illegally grappled with Chelsea full-back Branislav Ivanovic, who was later expulsed for two bookable offences.
A common ground must be met.
#4 Chelsea more than Diego Costa
A one man team, some critics said, laughing gleefully at the injury sustained to Diego Costa, the Premier League’s joint top goalscorer. Chelsea are so much more than the potency of the Spain international, so much more than his technique, skill, endeavour and goals.
Even deprived of Loic Remy’s valuable services, Chelsea shimmered with intent, thanks largely to Drogba’s influence on the engaging encounter. Even without their first-choice and second-choice strikers, Drogba, now third-choice at Stamford Bridge, is still able to produce and produce richly. An array of riches at Mourinho’s enviable disposal.
#5 Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal tactical battle
This was always going to be a match lost and won on tactical supremacy. Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, warm acquiantances after a cohesive stint at Barcelona together, emerged equally from an intriguing tactical battle.
The two venerated managers lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and urged their teams to press and limit the space available to their opponents, therefore thwarting the plausibility of an open, flowing and expansive encounter.
