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
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By CHRIS WHEELER
Published: 17:14 EDT, 16 May 2025 | Updated: 17:24 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 fewer 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 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 into the far corner.
So Chelsea will go to Nottingham Forest a week tomorrow on the last day of the season, for what could be a battle royale at the City Ground, in fifth and with 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
Cucurella rose highest to nod home Reece James' cross as Chelsea went fourth in the table
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.
Unlike Ange Postecoglou, Ruben Amorim named a strong line-up that could feasibly be the one he names against Spurs in Bilbao.
‘We have five days to prepare for the final,’ the United boss said before kick-off, having warned his squad they are playing for their places at the San Mames.
‘We are focused on this game and sometimes the best way to prepare for a final is to compete.’
Of the three changes made by Enzo Maresca, the only enforced one saw teenager Tyrique George lead the attack in the absence of the suspended Nicolas Jackson after his red card last week in the defeat at Newcastle.
Chelsea threatened first when Cole Palmer teed up Noni Madueke to fire over after Moises Caicedo burst over halfway, though he was probably offside.
Madueke caused United plenty of problems down their right and it was from one of his crosses that James rattled the post with a blockbuster shot.
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
Chelsea’s No 11 was the architect again in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Palmer’s effort was blocked by Mason Mount and Andre Onana had to claw the ball out of the air as it headed for the top corner. The loose ball fell for Enzo Fernandez, who blazed over and was relieved to be offside.
United played with the effort and intensity of a team that had taken their head coach’s warning seriously.
They had the ball in the net in the 16th minute when Bruno Fernandes picked out Harry Maguire who had got away from Tosin Adarabioyo to beat Robert Sanchez with a superb first-time finish, but a VAR check showed he was narrowly offside.
Mount, whose every touch was booed by the Chelsea fans on his return to Stamford Bridge, had a sight of goal shortly afterwards but miscued wide — much to the delight of his tormentors who immediate broke into a chorus of ‘Chelsea reject’, which felt a little harsh considering he won the Champions League here and commanded a £60million fee when he left for United in 2023.
Mount was off-target again in the early stages of the second half after Amad Diallo slipped a pass to him inside the box.
But the Chelsea fans were becoming increasingly restless as news filtered through that Villa were two up on Spurs, and even more so when Diallo teed up Fernandes to fire over shortly afterwards.
Chelsea thought they had a penalty on the hour when referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot after Onana rushed out of his goal and upended George, but VAR official Craig Pawson intervened again.
The referee was sent to the pitch-side monitor to be shown that Onana had clearly got a touch on the ball first, and overturned his decision.
Diallo was booked for going down in an attempt to win a penalty at the other end before Amorim made his first changes of the night, sending on Manuel Ugarte and Garnacho for Casemiro and Mount who exited to another chorus of boos.
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
Garnacho had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds when Chelsea scored, and was possibly caught cold by James.
Madueke had a great opportunity to make it two moments later when clean through on goal but fired wide.
Diallo almost made him pay when he broke down the right and cut inside before forcing a fine reflex save from Sanchez.
Cue more relief around Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will go to Forest with their destiny in their own hands.