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Cristiano Ronaldo is in top form, his teammates are not
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The German coaching duel in the Premier League has remained without a winner: Ralf Rangnick's Manchester United and Thomas Tuchel's FC Chelsea have separated 1-1 (0-0) in Manchester.
Marcos Alonso put the Blues ahead (60'), Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for United just two minutes later.
The draw was actually not enough for both clubs: For Chelsea, because the Londoners were the much better team and after 90 minutes recorded more than three times as many shots as their opponents - Reece James failed in the final phase on the post (80th).
And for United, because the chances of one of the top four places in the table and the associated qualification for the Champions League are only theoretical.
Although they are only three points behind Tottenham Hotspur and five points behind Arsenal, the north London clubs have each played two games fewer than the record champions, who can only get a maximum of nine points themselves and against title contenders FC Liverpool must compete.
The weak United yield is not due to the superstar: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his eighth goal in the last five Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
Ronaldo, the competition's record goalscorer with 140 goals, would miss the Champions League for the first time since the 2002/2003 season when the Portuguese played for Sporting in Lisbon as a teenager.
At United, Ronaldo has a contract until the 2023 season with an option for a further year.
In the coming season, a new coach should lead the club back to old successes: Dutchman Erik ten Hag comes from Ajax Amsterdam and inherits interim coach Rangnick.
cev/dpa
