toptop
Jose
Mourinho endured a nightmare return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat
Manchester United 4-0 on Super Sunday.
It took just 30 seconds for Chelsea to spoil Mourinho's comeback as Pedro
pounced on a defensive mix-up to score the fastest Premier League goal of the
season so far.
Gary Cahill thumped his second goal of the season on 21 minutes, before Eden
Hazard deepened Mourinho's misery with a fine 62nd-minute strike.
N'Golo Kante then completed the rout with Chelsea's fourth on 70 minutes as the
visitors capitulated.
The victory, which moved Chelsea into the top four and left United in seventh,
fittingly marked the 20th anniversary of former Chelsea vice-chairman Matthew
Harding's death.
Antonio Conte stuck with the same team which dispatched Leicester last week,
while Jesse Lingard replaced Ashley Young in what was United's only change from
Monday's draw at Liverpool.
Ten months after his sacking, Chelsea's most-decorated manager received a warm
welcome pre-match, but that quickly evaporated as the hosts hit the front before
a United player had even touched the ball.
A lofted pass over the top caused hesitation between the United defence and
David de Gea, allowing Pedro to capitalise and turn the ball into the unguarded
net.
Having been caught cold, United had the chance to level on eight minutes but
Zlatan Ibrahimovic could only head Antonio Valencia's cross onto the roof of the
Chelsea goal.
Despite this, the hosts remained in firm control as Hazard volleyed wide from a
corner after another defensive lapse from the visitors on 14 minutes.
Chelsea soon underlined their superiority, though, Cahill escaping Chris
Smalling's clutches to meet a deflected corner before clinically volleying home.
Marcus Rashford had an attempt blocked shortly after but Manchester United
remained in trouble. Pedro pinched possession from Daley Blind, before surging
to the byline and firing a low cross that De Gea had to block with his legs.
A minute later, Hazard's low cross almost fell for Diego Costa to make it three
but somehow Eric Bailly was able to clear.
Thibaut Courtois almost invited United back into the game on 28 minutes,
parrying Ander Herrera's shot into the path of Lingard, but atoned to block the
rebound.
The visitors were aggrieved David Luiz was shown a yellow card, rather than a
red, for a high challenge on Marouane Fellaini, which would force the Belgium
international off at half-time.
In the second period, Chelsea sat back and invited United forward with the
intent of hitting them on the counter, a ploy which led to their third.
Valencia and half-time substitute Juan Mata, also returning to his former club,
failed to mark Hazard and the Belgian was given the space to weave into the area
and convert low to De Gea's left.
Three quickly became four, this time Paul Pogba and Smalling were at fault as
Kante was given the freedom to roam into the area and beat a hapless De Gea.
Courtois was on hand to deny Ibrahimovic and Rojo from taking his clean sheet in
the closes stages as the Blues sealed a third consecutive victory in style.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Alonso (7), Luiz (6), Cahill (8),
Azpilicueta (8), Moses (7), Kante (8), Matic (7), Pedro (7), Hazard (9), Costa
(7).
Used subs: Willian (6), Batshuayi (5), Chalobah (5).
Man Utd: De Gea (4), Blind (4), Bailly (4), Smalling (4),
Valencia (6), Herrera (5), Fellaini (4), Lingard (4), Pogba (4), Rashford (5),
Ibrahimovic (4).
Used subs: Rojo (5), Mata (4), Martial (4)
Man of the Match: Eden Hazard
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill (c), Luiz, Alonso, Moses,
Kante, Matic, Pedro (Chalobah 70), Hazard (Willian 77), Costa (Batshuayi 77)
Subs Not Used Begovic, Oscar, Terry, Aina
Booked Pedro, Luiz, Alonso
Goals Pedro 1, Cahill 21, Hazard 62, Kante 70
Manchester United De Gae, Valencia, Bailly (Rojo 51), Smalling,
Blind, Herrera, Fellaini (Mata 45), Lingard (Martial 64), Pogba, Rashford,
Ibrahimovic
Subs Not Used Romero, Carrick, Young, Darmian
Booked Bailly, Pogba
Goals
Attendance 41,424
Referee Martin Atkinson