Matheus Cunha strike earns Manchester United crucial EPL win at Chelsea
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Manchester United's Matheus Cunha celebrating after scoring what turned out to be the winning goal against Chelsea in the Red Devils' 1-0 EPL away win on April 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Cunha's 43rd-minute goal secured Manchester United's 1-0 victory over Chelsea, boosting their Champions League hopes.
- Chelsea suffered their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat without scoring, despite 21 shots to United's four.
- Man United is now ahead of Aston Villa and Liverpool, and Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said they must keep working hard.
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LONDON – Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick is looking forward to more “big games”, as his side took a giant step towards ending a two-year exile from the Champions League thanks to Matheus Cunha’s goal in a 1-0 win at Chelsea on April 18.
United’s victory opens up a 10-point gap between the Red Devils in third place and sixth-placed Chelsea in the English Premier League, with only 15 points left to play for this season.
The top five in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League next season.
“They’re the ones we live for, really. That’s why we’re in it for, for the big games, the important games, for big performances and for the supporters to feel it,” Carrick said.
“It gives me a lot of satisfaction when I can be part of that and see other people enjoying it so much. That’s the beauty of football, and the pure form of it.
“There’s a lot of things to be proud of tonight. We can play a little bit better at times... We knew what this game was.
“We didn’t overplay it. If anything, we didn’t speak about positions or points. It was just coming down here to win a game and commit to that, and then the boys definitely did that.”
A fourth consecutive league defeat leaves Chelsea’s chances of being back among Europe’s elite next season in tatters and piles pressure on Liam Rosenior, just over three months into his reign.
“I don’t want my team to feel things are against us. We have to keep fighting,” said the Blues boss.
“It (defeat) gives us a mountain to climb. We have to go into Brighton (on April 21) knowing we need to win the game. I put myself under the most pressure. We just have to keep working with the staff and the players.”
Chelsea once again bemoaned the lack of a clinical striker as they failed to break down a makeshift United defence ravaged by injury and suspension.
Carrick was forced to name a backline featuring three fullbacks and 19-year-old Ayden Heaven.
But they held out to boost the former England’s midfielder’s case to get the job at Old Trafford beyond the end of this season.
“It was massive for us, a big win,” added Carrick. “To come here and keep a clean sheet like we did, and defend the way we did, I thought it was a magnificent performance.”
Chelsea were missing their top scorer Joao Pedro through injury and one-time United target Liam Delap failed to take his chance to shine up front.
Rosenior recalled Enzo Fernandez after the Argentinian was given a two-game suspension by the Blues for suggesting he would be open to a summer move to Real Madrid.
United looked rusty in a 2-1 loss to Leeds on April 13 in their first action for 3½ weeks. But Carrick’s men repaired the damage done to their confidence.
Cunha stole the show as he provided a precise finish to open the scoring two minutes before the break, from Bruno Fernandes’ 18th Premier League assist of the season.
Chelsea improved after the break but failed to prevent another defeat that leaves Rosenior’s role in doubt heading into next season.
“Tonight was a really difficult result to take,” the manager added.
“They had one shot on goal and scored. We hit the woodwork four or five times. We can’t get into a cycle where we feel sorry for ourselves.
“We have to turn this around. I saw a team that were dominant from the first minute to the last.” AFP, REUTERS
