Chelsea ensured that qualification for the Champions League stays in their very own arms as Marc Cucurella’s winner beat Manchester United 1-0 to climb to fourth within the Premier League.
United are gearing up for subsequent week’s Europa League last in opposition to Tottenham however ran the Blues shut as Ruben Amorim named a stronger line-up than anticipated.
Nevertheless, the Crimson Devils in the end slipped to an 18th league defeat of the season and stay sixteenth within the desk.
Chelsea and Aston Villa, who beat Spurs 2-0 in Friday’s different Premier League match, each leapfrog Manchester Metropolis into the highest 5.
Metropolis have a sport in hand at house to Bournemouth on Tuesday as they face Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup last.
However Chelsea will likely be assured of a return to Europe’s prime competitors after a two-year absence ought to they beat Nottingham Forest on the ultimate day of the season.
United’s depressing season can solely be saved by victory in Bilbao in 5 days’ time however Amorim resisted the temptation to relaxation his key males at Stamford Bridge.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Casemiro had been amongst these to start out as Amorim named near his strongest obtainable facet.
Chelsea had been and not using a recognised striker as a consequence of Nicolas Jackson’s suspension and the continued absence as a consequence of harm of Christopher Nkunku.
Teenager Tyrique George, a pure winger, was compelled to guide the road in an unfamiliar position up entrance and the Blues’ lack of a focus noticed them simply snuffed out.
United’s shiny begin was almost rewarded when Harry Maguire fired in Fernandes’ inviting cross just for a VAR evaluation to point out the centre-back had strayed centimetres offside.
Chelsea’s greatest effort earlier than half-time noticed Reece James’ long-range effort come again off the publish.
Cole Palmer was the one artistic spark for Enzo Maresca’s males and almost produced a second of magic with a dipping shot that Andre Onana palmed into the trail of Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentine one way or the other fired over over with the purpose gaping and was grateful to the offside flag for sparing his blushes.
A match suffering from stoppages for minor accidents and VAR checks didn’t permit both facet to hit their rhythm.
United began strongly once more within the second interval however didn’t make it depend as Mason Mount fired broad on his return to Stamford Bridge, earlier than Fernandes blasted over.
On the hour mark a VAR evaluation got here to the guests’ help when referee Chris Kavanagh initially pointed to the penalty spot after a problem between George and Onana.
Nevertheless, replays confirmed the goalkeeper clearly performed the ball and the spot-kick was overturned.
With Chelsea’s ahead gamers missing inspiration, the match-winning second was created and transformed by their full-backs 20 minutes from time.
James turned almost on the sting of the field and clipped in a cross that Cucurella met completely to move in his seventh purpose of the season.
Noni Madueke ought to have doubled the lead inside seconds when he skewed broad after a slick cross from Palmer.
That miss might have been pricey had Robert Sanchez not denied Diallo at his close to publish.
However Chelsea held their nerve to edge in the direction of the brink of a return to the riches and glamour of the Champions League.
