Manchester United suffered a 1-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, marking their 18th defeat in a Premier League season that has been disappointing. Marc Cucurella’s header in the second half, assisted by Reece James, secured the victory for the home team, enhancing their chances for Champions League qualification.
Although Harry Maguire believed he had given Ruben Amorim’s side an early lead, his goal was disallowed due to a marginal offside call. Despite the setback, the defeat is not catastrophic for the Red Devils, as they remain focused on the upcoming Europa League final and emerged from the match without any new injury issues.
Nevertheless, the manager may express dissatisfaction with the performances of several key starters in West London, potentially jeopardizing their positions for the European final.
Man Utd’s poor performers against Chelsea
Defender Luke Shaw has faced injuries for most of the season; however, manager Amorim decided to give him a starting position, aiming to secure his role in the upcoming season. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old was unable to make a significant impact at the Bridge, failing to win any tackles and losing possession four times, appearing to be a mere shadow of his former self.
He was not the only one who struggled, as striker Rasmus Hojlund also failed to make an impression in the attacking front, managing only 26 touches throughout his 90 minutes on the field.
Additionally, he lost possession an alarming 13 times, was unsuccessful in every ground duel, and did not register a single shot on goal, prompting Amorim to consider offloading the Danish international this summer.
Neither player performed at a level sufficient to provide the manager with justification for their inclusion in the Europa League final, necessitating the exclusion of another player for the crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur.
5/10 Man United dud must be axed for Europa League final
The Europa League final presents Manchester United with an opportunity to conclude a disappointing season on a positive note, by securing another trophy and a spot in the Champions League for the 2025/26 season. Amorim will have the chance to claim his first title since his appointment at Old Trafford in November, marking a significant milestone in his tenure at the club.
To triumph against another Premier League team, they must perform at their best, a level they have not consistently reached in recent months. The manager is likely to face several selection dilemmas prior to the match in Bilbao, but it is expected that Noussair Mazraoui will not be part of the starting lineup following his performance against Chelsea.
The Moroccan international played as a right-wing-back against Maresca’s side but failed to make a significant impact on either end of the field. Although he has often been regarded as one of Erik ten Hag’s most valuable signings this season, ranking second in the club’s Player of the Season standings, his recent form has declined, possibly due to fatigue.
He played the full match on Friday, managing to complete only 77% of his attempted passes, failing to execute any successful dribbles, and not contributing to the attack. Defensively, he was equally ineffective, frequently allowing winger Noni Madueke to bypass him into offensive positions.
| Mazraoui’s stats for United against Chelsea | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 68 |
| Passes completed | 33/43 (77%) |
| Dribbles completed | 0 |
| Aerial duels won | 2/4 (50%) |
| Possession lost | 13x |
| Crosses completed | 0 |
| Stats via SofaScore | |
Mazraoui recorded only one block and achieved a mere 50% success rate in aerial duels, failing to meet the high expectations he established for himself earlier in the season. Consequently, the full-back received a disappointing 5/10 match rating from GOAL journalist Richard Martin, underscoring his minimal influence during the loss.
It is clear that he is not suited for the wing-back position, as he appears to be more effective in a centre-back role, prompting the manager to consider benching him for the upcoming final. This performance presents the manager with a dilemma regarding the wide positions, but regrettably for the former Bayern Munich player, it was a forgettable night that may jeopardize his spot in the lineup.
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