Last week, Ruben Amorim suffered the ignominy of Manchester City fans chanting his name ironically. But last night, his Manchester United players proved that they believe in his project and are ready to fight for him. Facing Chelsea was probably not what the coach wanted in his next outing after the chastening derby defeat but his side made a flying start and eventually earned a 2-1 win.
The Red Devils had a massive helping hand from the reckless Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and to tell the truth they should have been assured of their victory long before the final whistle sounded.
But even withstanding the clumsy fouls from Casemiro which earned the Brazilian two yellow cards and cancelled out Sanchez's sending off, plus the fact his team were pushed to the limits by the visitors deep into added time, there was something hugely encouraging about the manner of the win for the coach.
His players, especially the defenders, put their bodies on the line to get the win over the line. Amorim's team showed the aggression he has been asking for. And, with the exception of Casemiro, they did not lose their heads. They withstood the pressure and for once they did not cave in. It cannot be denied that nearly everything went in United's favour, from the early red card, Bruno Fernandes' goal being marginally onside and Cole Palmer being forced off injured.
But not many people were backing United to win this game before kick off given the negative mood around the club and when push came to shove they emerged with the three points against a Big Six side, something they had not previously done at Old Trafford on Amorim's watch.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Old Trafford…
Getty Images SportWINNER: Bruno Fernandes
While this was not a typical case of the captain carrying the team on his back, Fernandes still played a crucial role in this victory and there was extra significance as it was his 200th game for United and his 100th goal. Even though he was supposed to be sitting in midfield he was the furthest forward when Dorgu flashed a header across the box and bundled it in.
He was in the thick of the action as United had to scrap in the second half, nearly scoring a second after surging forwards by himself and firing a shot which Filip Jorgensen superbly tipped around the post. Fernandes was substituted for Kobbie Mainoo in the 85th minute, a rare occurrence for him. But he was never going to sit down quietly, roaring his team-mates on to victory from the edge of his seat.
"The most important thing is the influence he has on the squad," said Amorim. "Sometimes he's not in the best position to be the main man in every game, but the point of the captain is to be the best he can be in every situation to help the team to be better. He's doing that. He deserves all the praise. That guy deserves to be in the history of our club, not just for what he does but for what his team conquers."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: Robert Sanchez and Casemiro
Chelsea fans were mostly pleased with their club's summer transfer business as they refreshed their squad with 10 new players while turning a profit. But there was an elephant in the room: why had they not signed a new goalkeeper?
Sanchez had enjoyed a relatively comfortable start to the season but less than five minutes into the game he underlined why there are so many doubts about his status as Chelsea's No. 1. It was reckless of him to charge out of his area to stop Bryan Mbeumo and Enzo Maresca admitted that he would have been better off letting the forward score and leave his side one goal down rather than one man down.
Sanchez made a joint-Premier League high of five errors leading to goals last season and although this error will not add to that unwanted tally it effectively cost his side the game. He also made unwanted history by giving away Chelsea's earliest ever red card in a Premier League game and getting the third-earliest red card of any goalkeeper in the competition's history. The good news for the Spaniard is that he will not miss any league games and will only be suspended for their Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln City.
The goalkeeper's blundering gave United a wonderful advantage and all they needed to do was not even it up by having one of their own sent off. But Casemiro did not get the memo, making two needless fouls and earning two yellow cards in the space of 37 minutes, giving Chelsea a lifeline. Strangely, Amorim praised the Brazilian for "being so aggressive". He might not have been so charitable had United not clung on for all the points.
AFPWINNER: Amorim's electric wing-backs
Wing-backs are utterly crucial to Amorim's system working and at last it looked like he had two players who had the mental and physical capacity to implement his ideas. Patrick Dorgu was a thorn in Chelsea's side throughout the first half, tearing into Reece James from the off. He fed Mbeumo a wonderful delivery in the opening minutes which the forward should have made more of. Moments later jumped into the area and was about to shoot on goal before James blocked him off.
The Dane then sparked United's opening goal with his header which Fernandes helped in and continued to go for the jugular, his relentless attacking eventually leading to Casemiro pouncing. Dorgu has been getting closer and closer to what Amorim asks of him and he was quietly impressive going forward in the defeat at City, just lacking the final ball. That was no problem today though.
And Noussair Mazraoui was equally impressive on the other wing. Both goals were sparked from swerving deliveries from the Moroccan's right boot. It was his cross which Dorgu headed in the direction of Fernandes and another of his deliveries created the chaos from which Casemiro eventually pounced.
When Mazraoui wasn't raining in crosses he was looking to play in Mbeumo down his right wing. And despite being fully involved in the attacking play he made sure he kept Chelsea at bay, sweeping up and clearing before he was taken off for Cunha. Mazraoui missed the start of the season but he has seized on the opportunity Diogo Dalot's absence afforded him and the Portuguese will not find it easy to win his place back.
AFPLOSER: Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer dismayed some Mancunians by turning up at Old Trafford wearing gloves. Perhaps being down south for two years have softened the lad from Wythenshawe. But leaving aside the gloves, he did not look right from the off and Maresca's decision to play his star man three days after completing 90 minutes against Munich in his first match from a groin injury has badly backfired.
Palmer had set alarm bells ringing in Munich – his first start since hurting his groin on the opening weekend of the season at Crystal Palace – by clutching his groin towards the end of the 3-1 defeat, looking concerned. Maresca had said on Wednesday that Palmer was OK because the player had said he was not injured but it quickly became clear that that was not the case. After the defeat, he admitted that Palmer was not 100 percent fit but had wanted to play regardless.
Palmer chucked his shin-pads on the floor in frustration as he trudged towards the sidelines in the 21st minute after being replaced by Andrey Santos. and soon after slowly walked down towards the tunnel, being subjected to chants of 'City reject' from the gleeful United fans, who must have been relieved to no longer be facing the man who had scored in four of his previous four matches against them. Chelsea will now be crossing their fingers the damage to their talisman is not too severe as they face Brighton, Benfica and Liverpool in the next two weeks. If he is out for another period, then both the player and the coach should accept the blame for taking such a big risk.
