NEW DELHI: Manchester United secured a return to the Champions League subsequent season after a 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea on Thursday. The targets from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford propelled the Crimson Devils to the third place within the Premier League standings.
A depressing evening summed up Chelsea’s season regardless of spending over £500 million ($620 million) within the switch market as they slumped to an eighth defeat in 10 video games since Frank Lampard returned as interim supervisor.
In contrast, affirmation of a top-four end rounds off a profitable first season in cost for Ten Hag after additionally ending United’s six-year trophy drought by successful the League Cup in February.
Extra silverware may very well be to return subsequent month ought to United halt Manchester Metropolis’s cost in the direction of the treble within the FA Cup remaining.
However a return to Europe’s elite competitors subsequent season was one in every of Ten Hag’s major goals when he took the reigns after a disastrous 2021/22 marketing campaign when United completed sixth.
“I believe (it’s) a profitable season however the season shouldn’t be completed,” mentioned Ten Hag.
“This membership belongs within the Champions League, however this league may be very robust, with many golf equipment competing for this place.
“It’s the principal goal of the season to get into the Champions League. The competitors is hard, many groups with actually good squads, good managers, so you’re doing an excellent job (to qualify). For this second it’s the most however we wish extra (subsequent season).”
Casemiro’s arrival from Actual Madrid has been elementary to United’s revival.
The 31-year-old’s class and expertise shone by means of in opposition to a youthful Chelsea aspect that have been punished for a scarcity of effectivity in each containers.
“It was one other actuality day immediately once you take a look at the emphatic nature on the prime finish of the pitch of United in comparison with us,” mentioned Lampard. “Outcomes for Chelsea this season aren’t adequate.”
Mykhailo Mudryk ought to have netted his first Chelsea objective when the Ukrainian sliced large a wonderful probability on 5 minutes.
Simply 60 seconds later, the guests trailed as Casemiro was afforded a free header to show residence Christian Eriksen’s free-kick.
A constructive evening for United was blighted by an damage to winger Antony, who was pressured off on a stretcher with an ankle damage that may make him a significant doubt for the FA Cup remaining in 10 days’ time.
However the residence aspect ended the sport as a contest in first-half stoppage time when Casemiro’s no-look move opened up the Chelsea defence for Jadon Sancho to sq. for Martial.
Ten Hag’s males ought to have had extra targets to spherical off a fantastic evening within the second interval as Fernandes smashed in opposition to the bar and Eriksen by some means failed to show in Tyrell Malacia’s cross from point-blank vary.
Fernandes did lastly get his objective from the penalty spot after the Portuguese midfielder was introduced down by Wesley Fofana.
Extra calamitous Chelsea defending invited Rashford to turn into the primary United participant in a decade to attain 30 targets in a season.
Fernandes pounced on Fofana’s unfastened move and teed up the England worldwide, who wanted two makes an attempt to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The waste of Chelsea’s season could be summed up by the £10 million mortgage payment splurged on Joao Felix in January for just a few months with little left to play for.
However the Portuguese worldwide confirmed a glimmer of his high quality with a surging run and low end for a late comfort that denied David de Gea his 18th clear sheet of the season.