Chelsea hosted Man United at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Friday
The Blues secured a crucial 1-0 win thanks to Marc Cucurella's second half goal
LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
By CHRIS WHEELER
Published: 17:14 EDT, 16 May 2025 | Updated: 17:17 EDT, 16 May 2025
The prospect of going into the final day of the season outside the top-five was starting to dawn on Chelsea fans when Reece James received the ball on edge of the Manchester United penalty box.
There were less than 20 minutes left at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League qualification were looking increasingly precarious with rivals Aston Villa already in the winners’ enclosure against a Tottenham reserve team.
But James showed the kind of coolness that great players do in situations like this to turn the situation on its head.
Taking a pass from Pedro Neto on the right, he tricked Alejandro Garnacho and turned back inside the United substitute before floating a lovely cross to the edge of the six-yard box.
Marc Cucurella had read it and was already sizing up his header, guiding the ball off that mop of curly hair beyond Andre Onana and into the far corner.
So Chelsea go to Nottingham Forest on the last day for what could be a battle royale at the City Ground assured of fifth place and the chance to secure that precious Champions League place.
Marc Cucurella's second half header gave Chelsea a crucial 1-0 victory over Man United
The Blues needed that victory as they battle to qualify for next season's Champions League
United could yet join them among Europe’s elite even though an 18th defeat of a wretched Premier League season left them in 16th place, separated from the relegation zone by Spurs, their opponents in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
Not since January 1990 have United gone eight games without a win in the league like this. They gave it a good go in a game that fell well short of the crazy 4-3 here last season, but as we have known for a long time now it’s Bilbao or bust.
MORE TO FOLLOW
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was watching on as United lost their 18th Premier League game this season
Harry Maguire earlier had a goal ruled out for offside via the tightest of calls after a VAR review
Chelsea also thought they had won a penalty when Tyrique George went down in the box
But following another VAR review, Chris Kavanagh adjudged that George wasn't fouled
Chelsea academy product Mason Mount received a hostile reception on his return to the club
Enzo Maresca oversaw a victory for his side on what was a tense night at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 1-0 Man United: Match Facts
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 6.5; James 8, Adarabioyo 6, Colwill 7, Cucurella 7; Caicedo 6.5, Fernandez 5.5; Madueke 7, Palmer 6, Neto 6 (Gusto 90+1); George 6 (Lavia 81). Subs: Jorgensen, Bettinelli, Acheampong, Chalobah, Anselmino, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall.
Scorer: Cucurella 71
Booked: Palmer
Head coach: Enzo Maresca 7
MAN UTD (4-3-3): Onana 6.5; Lindelof 6, Maguire 7, Shaw 6 (Heaven 81); Mazraoui 6.5, Casemiro 6 (Ugarte 70, 6), Fernandes 7 (Mainoo 81), Dorgu 6.5; Diallo 7, Hojlund 5.5, Mount 6 (Garnacho 70, 5). Subs: Bayindir, Amass, Fredricson, Collyer, Eriksen.
Booked: Casemiro, Diallo, Fernandes, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Heaven
Head coach: Ruben Amorim 6
Referee: Chris Kavanagh 7
Att: 39,849