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Chelsea were not at their best and to be fair Manchester United’s start to the game surprised me but Chelsea with three goals from Samuel Eto’o took an all important three points at Stamford Bridge!
I wrote a pre match prediction on here yesterday and stated that I believed Chelsea would win the game by three goals. I had said that because I had thought that without Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney, United wouldn’t be as dangerous as they proved to be!
When the two teams were announced, I looked at United and thought that it was a mediocre side at best and that’s only compared to the United sides of old that used to come here with a presence, with an aura about them. Being honest, I couldn’t see that in the side Moyes selected to start yesterday with both Kagawa and Hernandez (who always scores against Chelsea) named on the bench!
However, their start to the game surprised me. United dominated and caused us some problems early on. I was impressed with Adnan Januzai from the kick off and he looked to create and cause us problems all game. For someone so young, he has immense talent and he is someone to keep an eye on in the years to come.
Cech was forced into a save from Ashley Young early on and Patrice Evra smashed as shot into the side netting as we were forced onto the back foot for at least ten minutes into the game. The problem is, United for all their dominance early on, never took one of the chances they created.
That’s the difference in the big games though isn’t it. You MUST take your chances when you are on top and Chelsea did three times to win this one.
Before the game I expressed my disappointment that Fernando Torres had been replaced by Samuel Eto’o but stated “Who am I to question the manager!” It proved to be another master stroke from Mourinho as the Cameroon striker grabbed his first hat-trick in the Premier League.
Eto’o demonstrated that you didn’t need to be running all over the place, being a link man or someone looking to drop deep to score important goals, he has done it throughout his career.
Apart from his first goal creating from nothing, Eto’o benefited from being in the right place at the right time twice to kill off United before the hour mark and win the three points for Chelsea.
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Yes he had a lucky deflection to loop the ball over De Gea in to the far corner to make it 1-0 but you have to consider that he created the goal from nothing. He picked the ball up wide, sold Jones a dummy and took the shot on.
His second goal came from joke defending from United but kudos for Gary Cahill for spotting the opening, keeping himself onside and delivering a cross that every striker on the world loves for Eto’o to stroke home from ten yards completely unmarked in the box just before half time.
As for his third goal, United were punished from a set piece once again. Cahill rose unmarked eight yards out to head towards goal. De Gea actually made a good save but the rebound fell to the Chelsea striker a yard or two out and all he had to do was to prod the ball into the net for his first Chelsea hat-trick to make it 3-0!
Credit United’s comeback but it was never looking like being enough. If anything, Chelsea took their foot right off the gas, became too laboured, sat too deep and encouraged United to come on to them.
As expected now, Hernandez tapped in his customary goal against Chelsea. I simply cannot understand why he doesn’t start week in, week out for United?
The Vidic red card wasn’t a red but a yellow card as I believe it wasn’t a cynical challenge, Hazard just outwitted him and he was caught out.
As for Rafael, that was pure frustration and dangerous. That was a red!
So it’s another big win against our title rivals at home after beating City 2-1 and with Arsenal still to come here, Jose Mourinho’s side are grinding out results at such an important time.
We are right up there with Arsenal and City and we needed this victory to ensure we kept up with both of them after their victories this weekend.
The next set of Premier League fixtures could be key before Chelsea face City. Next Tuesday night, Arsenal travel to Southampton and on Wednesday, Man City take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Chelsea face West Ham at home.
Anything other than three points yesterday would have been a blow. Chelsea delivered exactly what was required of them despite not being at their best.
Carefree & KTBFFH!
