Chelsea handed Manchester United their 18th Premier League defeat of the season with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Friday night time.
United arrived with out a win of their final 11 visits to Stamford Bridge — their earlier triumph courting again to Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s reign in 2020.
Inexplicably, Ruben Amorim fielded a full-strength aspect regardless of their Europa League ultimate towards Tottenham in Bilbao looming on Could 21.
A goalless first half added to United’s poor attacking report early in video games this season — solely Southampton (12) and Leicester (11) have scored fewer first-half objectives than their 15. Alarmingly, if matches ended at half-time, United would sit 18th with simply 32 factors.
Since April started, no staff has earned fewer Premier League factors than United (2), in stark distinction to Aston Villa — their final-day opponents — who’ve picked up 21 in the identical interval.
The defeat confirmed that United would end a league season with out recording back-to-back wins for the primary time in Premier League historical past. It additionally prolonged their winless run to eight matches, a membership first within the competitors.
Rasmus Højlund struggles continues
United confirmed glimpses of intent within the first half, however as soon as once more, Rasmus Højlund delivered a below-par efficiency in what’s been a irritating season for the striker.
He didn’t register a key move and surrendered possession 13 occasions greater than he accomplished a move (11), a stat that can little doubt fear Ruben Amorim forward of the Europa League ultimate conflict with Tottenham on Could 21.
Former United captain Roy Keane held no bars when highlighting the participant’s efficiency. Talking on Sky Sports activities, the ex-United skipper criticised the 22-year-old sharply, stating: “They’ve received no striker. Hojlund tonight appeared like a younger child; he appeared like he’d simply come out of the academy. His runs weren’t proper, his timing, his hold-up play.”
Keane was blunt when requested if the ahead might thrive with higher assist: “We preserve making excuses for him; we’ve talked about confidence, however you continue to suppose while you’re a striker up there, you’ve received to make one thing occur generally.”
United’s INEOS-led hierarchy — together with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada, and Jason Wilcox — have been in attendance on the Bridge on Friday night time, and followers can be hoping Højlund’s show prompts them to step up plans to signal a brand new centre-forward this summer season.
