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Chelsea undefeated against Manchester United: Tuchel makes friends

2021-02-28T20:55:25.557Z


A clear handball against Manchester United does not result in a penalty, Chelsea FC remains unbeaten in the ninth game with Thomas Tuchel - a noble fan is also happy about that. And: Antonio Rüdiger is in top form.


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Thomas Tuchel after the game with Antonio Rüdiger and United's Harry Maguire

Photo: 

Andy Rain / POOL / EPA

Scene of the game:

Manchester United's luck on penalties is so conspicuous in the Premier League that at the beginning of the year even Jürgen Klopp (unasked) was furious about it.

In fact, the Red Devils have received 22 penalties since the start of the league's preseason, at least four more than any other club.

It did not fit into the picture, what Stuart Attwell decided in the game against Chelsea after a quarter of an hour: After a hint from the video assistant, the referee looked at how Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the ball in his own penalty area with his right hand in front of opponent Mason Greenwood nudged away - and still didn't decide on a penalty.

The result:

Manchester United played 0-0 at Chelsea.

The same thing happened to the club not only during the week in the Europa League against Real Sociedad, the first leg in the Premier League against the Blues also ended goalless.

The last three league games against other opponents from the traditional Big Six: 0-0 anyway.

You should press up:

Before kick-off, United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær spoke about the "German" football of his Chelsea counterpart Thomas Tuchel, who was able to give his team an enormous ball security in a short time.

Solskjær, who is actually a friend of counter-football against top clubs, wanted to counter this with a pressing tactic that was unusual for United and disrupt the development of the Londoners early on.

After high ball wins, the way to the Chelsea goal would be a short one, with Marcus Rashford, Daniel James and Mason Greenwood, young and sprinting attackers were in the starting line-up to implement the plan.

The first half:

In fact, Solskjær's idea only partially worked: Chelsea didn't have much time on the ball in the early stages, but instead of losing it, the Blues regularly freed themselves with quick, short passes.

Only at the transition to the attack third was there a problem, Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech were largely suspended in the air and hardly made contact.

So it remained with some promising, but fruitless crosses from right rail player Hudson-Odoi for Chelsea, while United managed little more than an unplaced free kick from Rashford (14th minute).

The Rüdiger Express:

Timo Werner and Kai Havertz are fighting for the connection at Chelsea, but Antonio Rüdiger is in top form.

As the left central defender in the back three, he has not missed a league minute since Tuchel was introduced as the new coach at the end of January.

Since then, the Londoners have only conceded two goals, during the week Rüdiger even reported Luis Suárez against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.

Rüdiger's urge to move forward was noticeable against United: In the first half, he managed three dribbles, and again and again Rüdiger moved deep into the opposing half.

In the sixth minute, the defender trudged past five opponents before being placed on the left wing.

There were also some nice shifts to the right wing and flawless timing in the duels.

The second half:

A good football game turned into a promising one.

A low cross from Ben Chilwell put Hakim Ziyech in the middle of the goal, David de Gea parried with a reflex (49th).

Greenwood shot just wide (60th), Scott McTominay aimed too center (61st), Fred's Schlenzer missed the right corner by a hair's breadth (68th).

After United's ten minutes of Sturm und Drang, almost only Chelsea played, but never so purposefully that a late winning goal was in the air.

Mr. 100 percent:

Do you remember Andreas Christensen?

The 24-year-old Dane has been playing for Chelsea since 2012, but also spent two extremely successful seasons on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga between 2015 and 2017.

Since then, Christensen has only been partially happy in terms of sport in London. Against Manchester United he managed at least one feat: Despite Solskjaer's pressing order, Christensen also brought all of his 73 passes to his teammate.

No jump, just a hop:

the championship in the Premier League is as good as decided.

Behind the dominators of Manchester City there is an eight battle for the remaining three Champions League places.

Chelsea FC started the matchday in wait position in fifth place.

Then only the fourth lost West Ham, finally Leicester City, currently in third place, failed against Arsenal.

Instead of big points in the fight for the premier class, there was now only one point.

A new fan:

Tuchel remained unbeaten in the ninth competitive game as a Chelsea coach.

And not only that, he also won the heart of a prominent British football fan: "I like this Chelsea coach," tweeted ex-Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.

And if you are liked by Liam Gallagher, you will have arrived safely on the island for now.

Icon: The mirror

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-02-28

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