2 weeks ago
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James OlleyMay 16, 2025, 06:15 PM ET
LONDON -- Chelsea look different tense 90 minutes astatine Nottingham Forest adjacent play if they cannot travel up with a much convincing solution to beingness without Nicolas Jackson than this.
The Blues' 1-0 triumph implicit Manchester United connected Friday keeps them connected people -- hardly -- for Champions League qualification, but it was the merchandise of an uninspiring and often fraught evening.
The 71st-minute extremity came from 1 full-back crossing to another. A fantastic portion of accomplishment from Reece James created an opening to present the shot into the container wherever Marc Cucurella planted a header past André Onana.
United brag Ruben Amorim, a proponent of wing-back play, would person approved. So would England brag Thomas Tuchel, watching connected nether his customary shot headdress from the stands present astatine Stamford Bridge successful his relation arsenic England boss. Previously arsenic Chelsea's manager, helium excessively extolled the virtues of attacking wing-backs and specifically James, who deed the station the archetypal fractional with a sublime effort from the borderline of the box.
There was precious small prime from Chelsea otherwise. Cole Palmer played successful Noni Madueke aboriginal connected but helium could lone blaze his effort implicit the bar. Palmer's deflected changeable forced Onana into a astute prevention arsenic the crippled approached the interruption but the Blues were mostly stunted arsenic an attacking threat.
And that by a Man United broadside who proceed to rack up unwanted records: this is their 17th Premier League decision successful a season, which volition extremity with their fewest wins (currently 10) and fewest points (currently 39).
For Mason Mount, this was an unwelcome instrumentality to westbound London, booed passim by Chelsea fans unhappy astatine his determination to commercialized bluish for reddish erstwhile the nine stalled implicit offering him a declaration successful 2023.
Of course, each eyes for Man United are connected Wednesday's Europa League last against Tottenham. While Chelsea person their ain European showpiece up -- a Europa Conference League Final against Real Betis -- present is the infinitesimal for Enzo Maresca's side.
Champions League qualification would travel a twelvemonth up of docket if Chelsea tin propulsion disconnected a win, and it would fertile arsenic a immense boost for Maresca, who is inactive trying to triumph implicit the Chelsea faithful, arsenic evidenced by the vexation emanating from the stands astatine their deficiency of potency.
Jackson's reddish paper astatine Newcastle past play means helium was suspended present and volition beryllium again connected Sunday's last day. Although the 23-year-old is yet to soundlessness each doubters astir his pedigree, his 12 goals crossed each competitions has been a utile publication portion Maresca repeatedly cites Jackson's pressing quality from the beforehand arsenic unrivalled wrong his squad.
With Christopher Nkunku struggling for fittingness and again sidelined, Maresca opted to commencement 19-year-old Tyrique George for the archetypal clip successful the Premier League. It was a large call, based connected a tendency for his No. 9 to tally successful down United's five-man defence, but helium struggled to power play. He had conscionable six touches successful the archetypal fractional and lone 14 successful the 81 minutes helium was connected the field.
Maresca's different options -- utilizing Palmer oregon Pedro Neto done the mediate -- whitethorn not person been perfect but their greater acquisition could person made this a much comfy evening. The Italian enactment a affirmative rotation connected George's contribution, which threatened to highest erstwhile helium went down nether a 61st-minute situation from Onana lone for VAR to overturn referee Chris Kavanagh's archetypal punishment award.
"[George was] precise good, precise good," said Maresca. "Brave. He was a menace successful behind. Not casual for him due to the fact that connected the different broadside you person Maguire, you person Lindelof, you person Shaw. He was warring against important defenders. But again, we tried to find a solution with a subordinate signifier the academy and wide In deliberation besides helium had the punishment moments truthful helium worked rather well."
Did helium amusement capable to play astatine Forest if required? "Absolutely yes, 100 percent," replied Maresca.
In fairness, solutions astatine No. 9 are hard to travel by. Just look astatine United, who endured different anonymous show from Rasmus Holjund and, successful truth, the champion decorativeness of the nighttime came from centre-back Harry Maguire arsenic helium fired successful from Bruno Fernandes' 16th-minute transverse lone for the extremity to beryllium ruled retired connected a choky VAR reappraisal call.
On Hojlund, Amorim said: "I'm happy. Of people each the squad has to amended but the mode helium runs, helium fights for each ball, loses a batch of duels, wins immoderate duels. He needs to amended the transportation but helium is improving truthful I americium truly blessed with him. He conscionable needs to proceed to enactment hard and amended days volition come."
Both clubs volition look to fortify their onslaught this summer. Both are funny successful Ipswich Town's Liam Delap. Whichever squad tin connection Champions League shot whitethorn good extremity up winning the contention for his signature.
"I deliberation that's wherever the nine belongs, successful the Champions League," said James. "Competing successful the champion competitions. People similar to constitute america disconnected and telephone america inexperienced. We played against a precise experienced United squad today. We were determination and we won the game. We got what we needed to do."
Maresca admitted connected Thursday that Chelsea were moving connected however to beryllium effectual without Jackson. They whitethorn person beaten United but the hunt continues.
