With all eyes falling on Old Trafford on Saturday evening, Manchester United and Ruben Amorim claimed an essential boost as they clinched a 2-1 victory against historic foes Chelsea.
With Chelsea shot-stopper Robert Sanchez shown a straight red card after just five minutes following a reckless challenge on Bryan Mbeumo, the Red Devils didn’t take long to capitalise on their one-man advantage.
Watching skipper Bruno Fernandes open the scoring in the 14th-minute as the Portuguese playmaker recorded a second Premier League strike of the season, United’s home support were sent into overdrive as Casemiro tapped home at the back stick and added a second just after the half hour mark.
However, although United might have been firmly in cruise control heading into the half-time break, it wouldn’t be a showdown at Old Trafford without plenty of twist and turns.
Despite bagging United’s second of the afternoon, Casemiro was shown his own red card late in first-half stoppage time as the ex-Real Madrid superstar hauled back Andrey Santos to get a second yellow.
While Trevoh Chalobah might have nodded home in the final 10 minutes as Saturday’s guests set up a grandstand finish under torrential rain, Chelsea failed to claim an immediate response following on from their downbeat Champions League exit earlier in the week.
On an evening when Amorim certainly eased some of the major pressure on his shoulders, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Old Trafford.
A make or break evening for Amorim
Marking their return from September’s international break with a 3-0 drumming away at bitter local rivals Man City last weekend, there was serious suggestions that another defeat on Saturday evening would be the final nail in Amorim’s coffin.
Infamously crashing out of the EFL Cup last month at the hands of League Two outfit Grimsby and mustering just a single win from any of their first five appearances across all competitions ahead of Saturday’s showdown, the former Sporting Lisbon boss has come under a huge amount of scrutiny.
Despite arriving at Old Trafford 10 months ago amidst plenty of excitement, Amorim saw his squad break a string of unwanted records last season as they slumped to a 14th-place finish.
However, although United might have endured a nervy final few minutes here, you could feel the relief among the home supporters and there is no doubt that Saturday’s 2-1 win will be seen as one of the most important of Amorim’s tenure so far.
With no European adventure pencilled in for this season and still failing to register consecutive Premier League victories continuing on from last season, Amorim’s side must use Saturday’s result as a platform to build on.
A defensive headache for Maresca
Landing a 1-0 victory when they welcomed United to Stamford Bridge back in May and mustering seven points from their previous three Premier League meetings against Saturday’s hosts, Chelsea were smelling the chance to claim an immediate response here.
However, getting their European campaign underway with a 3-1 defeat away at German giants Bayern Munich, Enzo Maresca’s men will leave Manchester with even more frustration.
Marking their return from September’s international break with last-gasp heartbreak away at local rivals Brentford last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate, Chelsea have shown some recent defensive issues.
Shipping seven goals in their three appearances since returning from September’s fortnight interval, the Blues have also failed to find any real domestic stability on their travels.
Despite piling the pressure late on at Old Trafford, Chelsea have now won just three of their last 14 Premier League matchups outside of west London – a run that stems all the way back to December 2024.
Fernandes pulls the strings at Old Trafford
While Ferandnes might have found himself at the heart of a real transfer saga over the summer following bank-breaking interest from Saudi Arabia, United’s skipper made it abundantly clear that he wanted to remain and do his part at Old Trafford.
Opening the scoring on Saturday evening and bagging a second goal in his previous three Premier League appearances, it was also a history-making afternoon for the former Sporting Lisbon starlet.
In what was his 200th Premier League appearance for the Red Devils, Saturday’s opener was also brought up a century of strikes for United across all competitions and becomes just the 18th player at Old Trafford to achieve that milestone.
Now just four outings away from bringing up his 300th appearance for the former Premier League champions, Fernandes was at the heart of everything positive that United’s camp produced here.
With big-money summer recruit Benjamin Sesko failing to make any real immediate impact after arriving from German outfit RB Leipzig, Fernandes still remains United’s chief goal threat.
Match Report
Manchester United: Bayindir, de Ligt, Maguire, Shaw, Dorgu, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Diallo, Sesko
Subs: Mainoo, Ugarte, Yoro, Cunha, Mount
Chelsea: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, Pedro
Subs: George, Santos, Gusto, Jorgensen, Adarabioyo
Goals: Manchester United: Fernandes (14’), Casemiro (37’) – Chelsea: Chalobah (80’)
Yellow Cards: Manchester United: Casemiro – Chelsea: Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, Adarabioyo
Red Cards: Manchester United: Casemiro (45+5’) – Chelsea: Sanchez (5’)
Referee: Peter Banks
