Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea - 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | FA Cup 2019-20

Manchester United v Chelsea - FA Cup: Semi Final

#3 Tactical shift paves way for Chelsea dominance

Chelsea outplayed United
Chelsea outplayed United

The Blues were the better side in every department against Manchester United on Sunday. Chelsea, like their counterparts, opted to play 3-4-3 and looked far better and comfortable throughout the game. While an injury to Eric Bailly forced United to change their shape, Chelsea only got stronger as the game went on.

Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho dominated proceedings in the middle, as United remained flat, tepid and unable to get their best players on the ball. The width provided by Marcos Alonso and Reece James also troubled the Red Devils, who looked tactically outplayed since the start.

Chelsea also pressed consistently through Mason Mount and Willian, and it ensured United were not allowed the time and space to build patiently from the back. Without the shadow of a doubt, the tactical shift worked wonders for one side, while the other was burdened by it.


#2 Revenge must feel sweet for Lampard

Lampard couldn't have asked for more
Lampard couldn't have asked for more

Most of the talk leading up to the game was dominated by how Manchester United had beaten Chelsea in all three of the meetings so far this season. Frank Lampard endured a 4-0 drubbing at Old Trafford during his first league game in charge, while defeats in the reverse fixture and the League Cup at Stamford Bridge had added to his problems against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, the FA Cup semi-final triumph would be nothing short of a proud renaissance for the Chelsea legend. Notably, this is the closet both clubs have got to lifting silverware so far this season, and hence, Lampard certainly had the last laugh over his counterpart.

Whether he goes on to lift the FA Cup in his first season remains to be seen. However, it is safe to say he couldn't have asked more from his players on Sunday, when everything went according to plan.


#1 Mount marks debut season with Wembley goal

Mount has been excellent for Chelsea this term
Mount has been excellent for Chelsea this term

Still only in his first senior campaign with Chelsea, Mount has made the highest number of appearances for the club this season. The 21-year-old has spent 14 years at Chelsea, and finally completed his integration into the senior side, after the appointment of Frank Lampard last summer.

While he has emerged as one of the leading candidates for Young Player of The Year in England, Mount has now added the icing on top of his wonderful debut season with a goal at Wembley.

It was not his best effort, but a catastrophic error from De Gea gave him his first senior goal for Chelsea at one of football's ancestral homes, and in the oldest football tournament in the world.

Irrespective of how it came, it is still a monumental achievement for one of Chelsea's finest academy products, who has been a star performer for the club in his first season in the top-flight.

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Edited by Ashwin