Chelsea hold nerve in CL race as they beat Man Utd to go fourth

Chelsea held their nerve in the race for Champions League qualification as Marc Cucurella’s second-half header secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United to send them fourth.

The pressure was on for Chelsea after Aston Villa beat Tottenham, a result which would have moved them above Enzo Maresca’s side had they dropped points but, after a tense wait for the breakthrough, captain Reece James set up Cucurella with a fine turn and cross.

Although Ruben Amorim went with a strong line-up ahead of the Europa League final, if Chelsea had slipped up against this United side, 16th and now winless for a record eight Premier League games, questions would have been asked.

Chelsea will at least be in the top five when they go to Nottingham Forest in their final game of the league season on May 25. Victory at the City Ground would guarantee a return to the Champions League after two years away.

United have now lost 18 games in the league this season and are yet to hit 40 points, usually the target for teams to avoid relegation, with just one game left against Villa. Everything is riding on Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham.

The damning Man Utd stats

This was Manchester United’s 18th league defeat of the season, their most in a season since losing 20 in 1973-74 in the last season in which they were relegated.

United have gone eight league games without a win (D2 L6) for the first time since an 11-game stretch between December 1989 and February 1990.

This was Ruben Amorim’s second run of losing three consecutive Premier League matches with Manchester United (also doing so in December), only one fewer run of three consecutive defeats than Sir Alex Ferguson had across his 810 games in the competition (3).

Since the start of April, United have won fewer points than any other Premier League side (2), drawing two and losing six of eight games in that time.

United have failed to score in the first half of 26 Premier League matches this season, their most in a single campaign. No side has failed to score in more first halves this season (relegated Leicester also on 26).

Chelsea one step closer to Champions League

There was a party atmosphere after the full-time whistle blew for the final time at Stamford Bridge this season. Chelsea’s owners are just one win away from their first Champions League qualification after more than £1bn spent and three coaches sacked.

Behdad Eghbali, co-founder of Clearlake Capital, and co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley were on the pitch enjoying the moment with players and staff after the win was sealed. How different it might have been if there was another slip.

Chelsea did not find it as easy others had against United in the league and, without suspended striker Nicolas Jackson, it was not always clear were the breakthrough would come from as Tyrique George, 19, struggled up front in his first league start.

Tension had built around the stadium – and only grew when Villa’s victory over Spurs was confirmed – until the skipper came up with the moment of brilliance required to break the deadlock, having struck a post with an exquisite strike in the first half.

Seventy minutes had passed when James pirouetted on the edge of the box before picking out Cucurella free in the box. His seventh goal of the season, a fine header back across goal, has a case for being his most important. Win at Forest and it is mission complete.

Maresca will be as relieved as anyone. Chelsea were the better team for much of the game, but the wait made life uncomfortable. The consequences of falling short may have seen attentions turn to him. Instead, Eghabli’s presence on the pitch was just a footnote.

James: Chelsea belong in Champions League

Chelsea captain Reece James to Sky Sports:

“I knew I had space and time. I knew I put the ball in a good area, this guy was always arriving.

“We’ve been working the whole season, the message has been clear from the start. Executing it has been hard. Today, what we’re trying to do pays off.

“I feel confident, it’s the most I’ve played in a few seasons. I want to help the team and hope we can finish it in the right way.

“The Champions League is where the club belongs, competing in the best competitions. People like to write us off and call us young ,but it’s an experienced Manchester United team and we did what we needed to do to get the three points.”

Story of the match in stats…

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