In a tumultuous match last night at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United endured yet another setback in what can only be described as a perplexing season, conceding a late lead to succumb to a 4-3 defeat against Chelsea.
The game unfolded in a bizarre manner, marked by a lack of defensive prowess from both sides. Within the first 20 minutes, Manchester United found themselves trailing 2-0, courtesy of goals from Conor Gallagher and a Cole Palmer penalty, leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s squad on the back foot.
However, the visitors showed resilience, staging a commendable comeback before halftime. Strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes leveled the score, with Garnacho later securing a lead for United in the 67th minute, a lead they clung onto until injury time.
The match then descended into chaos.
Chelsea managed to equalize after Palmer converted his second penalty in the 100th minute, before clinching the victory less than 90 seconds later through another Palmer goal, aided by a deflection and United’s woeful set-piece defending.
This defeat deals a severe blow to United’s already slim hopes of securing Champions League football for the next season, with defensive frailties becoming a glaring concern in recent weeks.
United’s porous defense has been alarming, evident in the staggering number of shots they’ve allowed their opponents.
Last night, Chelsea registered 28 shots on goal, adding to the mounting tally of 106 shots conceded over four games in March alone, averaging over 26 shots per match.
The statistics paint a grim picture, indicating deep-rooted structural issues within the Manchester United team.
Of particular concern is their midfield, which often leaves vast expanses of space for opponents to exploit, resulting in a barrage of shots on their own goal.
Despite the concerning figures, manager Erik ten Hag appeared dismissive during a post-match interview, brushing off inquiries about his team’s defensive lapses.
Question that irked Eric Ten Hag during interview with TNT SPORT.
“Reporter: Overall in the match, you faced another 28 shots. Those kind of numbers can’t be sustainable going into the rest of the season and going forward, can they?
Ten Hag: That is ridiculous. We showed we were ranked fourth before this game in goals conceded, so everyone is talking to each other after. I can’t do anything with that.
We have good defending as a team. We have a great goalkeeper, we have a good back four as well. I can’t do nothing with such stats…
We are resilient. You have seen today how resilient we are, how we returned into the game, the quality of our football, how we can play outstanding football in moments.
They are real highs, but football is about results. You have to bring that over time”.
With another daunting fixture against Liverpool looming this weekend, United faces a formidable challenge.
While they emerged victorious in their recent FA Cup encounter against Jurgen Klopp’s side, conceding 25 shots in that match, they can ill afford a repeat performance, as Liverpool is unlikely to squander similar opportunities.
