Manchester United suffered yet another defeat in the Premier League as they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - with two players not happy after the winning goal
16:58, 17 May 2025
Manchester United's Harry Maguire, goalkeeper Andre Onana, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes dejected after Marc Cucurella's goal for Chelsea
Manchester United's Harry Maguire, goalkeeper Andre Onana, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes dejected after Marc Cucurella's goal for Chelsea(Image: PA)
Manchester United's abysmal season continued with a loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge ahead of their make-or-break Europa League final versus Tottenham.
Veteran stars Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire immediately took Alejandro Garnacho to task after Marc Cucurella's 71st-minute winner for the home side. Garnacho had barely been on the pitch for two minutes when he was left in the dust by Reece James, who breezed past him to set up his fellow full back.
Such lacklustre effort could spell trouble for Garnacho. It seemed telling that he was benched for the second consecutive game, a first since early January. All signs now suggest Mason Mount will keep his spot in Bilbao on Wednesday over a forward who has started 14 matches on the trot.
Under pressure United boss Ruben Amorim has been wrestling with balancing pragmatism and proactivity. In the Europa League, he's leaned towards the former and it's paid off. This potential dry run might persuade him to keep things simple against Tottenham.
It might not sit well with United fans to see Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, last year's FA Cup final heroes and academy graduates, warming the bench. But it's a necessary evil and you can't fault Amorim with the season hanging in the balance, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Reece James breezed past Alejandro Garnacho
Reece James breezed past Alejandro Garnacho(Image: Getty Images)
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He chose a squad that might just take to the pitch again in Bilbao. Fernandes and Maguire, two colossal figures for United, linked up for the night's prime moment of class. But it was all for naught as Maguire was caught just offside before burying the ball.
And with that, another grim milestone hits the books. United are now eight matches without a win in the league, a drought not seen since January 1990.
They've clocked up 18 league losses this season, sit on a -12 goal difference and have failed to score in 15 games. Only Spurs' own blunder has kept them from sinking below 16th place.
The chant "Follow, follow, follow" morphs into "Hollow, hollow, hollow", a jibe United fans have thrown at Chelsea for nearly two decades. They also revived 'Viva John Terry', harking back to their last Champions League glory and better times.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looks dejected after Marc Cucurella of Chelsea (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC at Stamford Bridge on May 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes looks dejected after Marc Cucurella's goal for Chelsea(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Chelsea, meanwhile, are eyeing their own European final and a spot in the Champions League. You'd think United were higher up the table until Cucurella met James' cross with a thumping header.
Aston Villa leapfrogged into fifth, leaving Chelsea behind, and by half-time, their win over Tottenham seemed set in stone. That did little to lift spirits at a club where the tension between the supporters and the coach is thick in the air.
Enzo Maresca even ditched his jacket mid-game, feeling the heat of the first half. Chelsea were in a right state as young hotshot Tyrique George took a dive with Andre Onana rushing at him. The ref Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot, but a quick gander at the replay signalled an inevitable U-turn.
Amorim and Maresca were proper chummy on the sidelines. Ex-Man City keeper Willy Caballero was having a right go about it all until Amorim suggested he take a butcher's at the big screen replay, which hardly got a peep from the Chelsea support.
It wasn't until Amorim rang in the subs with eyes on their next clash that Chelsea struck gold. Casemiro had been a brick wall all game, while Mount's wizardry usually goes unseen. Not quite the story for Garnacho though.
The match-up was set from the off with Patrick Dorgu up against James. Dorgu, alongside his Danish pal Rasmus Hojlund, a 20 year old in the starting squad, really should've been on the bench – especially missing Diogo Dalot tearing up the other wing.
Maresca and skipper James talked up the fixture as "big" in the programme, didn't they? Amorim’s picks made sure United kept their edge sharp.
He's also one for a show, is Amorim. Clapping like mad on three different occasions to shoo his defence forward and going nuclear over Dorgu's duff pass. With a shake of the head, Amorim turned his back on the pitch to moan about Dorgu's flubs to his crew.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Ruben Amorim applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC at Stamford Bridge on May 16, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has a huge few days ahead of the Europa League final(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
In the second half, it was Amorim's right-hand man's turn to vent his frustration at Dorgu. Carlos Fernandes yelled out Dorgu's name as United got ready for a set piece, but his voice didn't cut through the noise, coinciding with a loud chant of "Follow, follow, follow" from the stands.
Amorim seems to have a like-minded ally in his fellow Portuguese and captain, Fernandes, who shot Hojlund a stern look for a short pass, and then told him off during the next break in play. Amorim himself spun around in frustration when Onana chose a short pass over a long one, only for United to lose the ball when they tried to find Hojlund further upfield.
As the game wore on, Hojlund's exasperation boiled over, and he confided in Mount, who offered a reassuring pat on the head. Mount, who got a warm welcome as a sub at his old club last year, didn't get the same treatment this time, starting the match as he did.
Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund has endured a rotten season(Image: Getty Images)
The Chelsea fans were far more vocal in their booing and insults, labeling Mount a "Chelsea reject" from the Matthew Harding Stand, while Cole Palmer was dubbed a "City reject".
Mount's first-half effort, United's only official shot on goal, sailed harmlessly towards the corner flag. He came closer to scoring in the second half but didn't let the near-miss get to him, even with Chelsea fans baying in the stands.
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When Amorim took him off in the 70th minute, Mount got a warm hug and pat on the back from his boss. Garnacho, who stepped in as a replacement, is still one of the rare players who gets a serenade from the crowd, something he experienced during his first warm-up in the 38th minute.
However, the night wrapped up just as it kicked off: with a chorus of 'Follow, follow, follow'. The fans had shown up, but their team didn't.