Chelsea FC v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
It was nine months and 23 Premier League games until Chelsea kept a Premier League clean sheet at Everton. Now, they have two in three games after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Man United.
Mike Penders has played a part in both clean sheets. The Belgian came off the bench against Everton to become Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper, and made a massive save against United.
Here's our Chelsea player ratings vs Man United! Who deserves higher or, perhaps, even lower? 👀
I am happy to see Estevao being given the chance to display his quality on the ball, and to show he has workwd on his off the ball movement. Lavia's performance was impeccable, and as far as Penders goes only Verbruggen played better in goal yesterday.
Manchester United played well, their offense was very smooth, especially with short passes, but their defense had problems.
Estêvão is really playing well, he can play more, he can play in the next game, this guy is great.
The former Genk star, likened to Thibaut Courtois, pulled off a magnificent stop to deny Bryan Mbeumo in the second half. But with two clean sheets in three, have Chelsea finally cracked their defensive issues?
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Alonso’s three defensive problems: Fofana is not good enough
Ultimately, they got lucky on Saturday. Man United could have led the game at the break, and probably should have. Matheus Cunha’s disallowed goal was close to being onside, and Wesley Fofana is a liability.
According to one supporter on Talking Points, the sooner Fofana leaves Chelsea, the better the defence would be. Back in the summer, Fofana was offered to Barcelona with a bargain £26m price tag required.
100% they would. We still need a top CB before we can compete at that level and the sooner Fofana leaves the better
The Chelsea defender conceded possession and allowed Amad Diallo in on goal. He was also “caught sleeping”, as Joe Cole put it in commentary, allowing United in down the right side of the penalty area.
The issue is, it’s October. Chelsea cannot go into the transfer market and replace Fofana. Maxence Lacroix is sidelined with a hamstring injury. It is not as if Chelsea haven’t been warned by Fofana before, either.
Even on Wednesday, he conceded a penalty and missed one in the shootout. It’s a lack of care, a lack of concentration, and his lack of discipline is an issue, too. Two reds in 25, seven yellows in 14. Not good.
Constant injuries = no consistency at the back
Since Alonso took charge at the start of the summer, he has been without Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Pep Chavarria, Lacroix, Aaron Anselmino, and Reece James at times this season. Injuries have disrupted things.
Obviously a great win to beat United any time, but you’d wonder would a top top team like Arsenal expose those early mistakes?
Alonso has chopped and changed formation, largely due to his defensive options and who is available. On Saturday, he used a back four, and while Chelsea kept a clean sheet, there were so many holes.
Alonso needs his best defence available and to be able to start them week in, week out. So far, since he became Chelsea manager, Alonso has not had that available to him. It will be unpredictable until then.
£130m of summer investment was a step in the right direction
With Emi Martinez, Chavarria, Lacroix and Marco Palestra bought, Chelsea are more solid at the back. The fact they have two clean sheets in nine Premier League games, but none since January, is a sign of that.
I’m not convinced. Rogers is really papering over some cracks. Still not sure what Alonso’s Chelsea are, but it’s still very early days, of course.
But Chelsea needed to go further, and come January, they really need a defensive leader. Willian believes Thiago Silva could still do a job, but at 42, that is unlikely. Chelsea need someone of the Brazilian’s ilk.
In goal, Chelsea have an older player in Martinez. They have Jordan Henderson in midfield and Danny Welbeck in attack. They lack that elder statesman in defence, and that should be Chelsea’s priority.