Published on 07.12.2023
Erik Ten Hag received some relief from the pressure as Scott McTominay’s two goals led Manchester United to a much-needed 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
Ten Hag’s decision to bench both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, amid rumors of discord in the dressing room, had the desired effect for the manager under scrutiny. The team’s performance, both defensively and offensively, was vastly improved compared to their disappointing loss against Newcastle on Saturday.
Time for a word with the man of the moment
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 7, 2023
Take it away, @McTominay10#MUFC || #MUNCHE
McTominay opened the scoring by capitalizing on Harry Maguire’s rebounded shot in the 19th minute. However, Bruno Fernandes missed an early penalty opportunity in the eighth minute that could have given United an even bigger lead.
United dominated play during the first half but failed to extend their lead. Just before halftime, Cole Palmer equalized for Chelsea with a skillfully placed strike from just inside the area.
The home side experienced a dip in effectiveness after halftime; however, McTominay restored their advantage with a close-range header off Alejandro Garnacho’s cross in the 69th minute. Later on, Garnacho himself squandered a golden opportunity to secure victory on a counterattack.
