Chelsea 4-0 United: Five things we learned

Chelsea are now getting into the groove under Conte – but are they genuine contenders for the Premier League crown or did they get a tired United side after their excursions at Anfield on Monday, and at home to Fenerbache on Thursday?

Here are five things we learned from Sunday’s clash between the two sides.

MOU NOT SO SPECIAL ANYMORE

Jose Mourinho has won only nine out of his last 28 Premier League games as a manger. That statistic has to worry most Manchester United supporters.

The manner of Sunday’s defeat was most alarming. United were in tatters not just at the back, but all over the pitch.

This is best evidenced by the shocking fourth goal they conceded.

N’Golo Kante, not known for his goal-scoring exploits made a simple run off both Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini – neither tracked him, or more worryingly spotted him as the Frenchman went past Chris Smalling at ease to score Chelsea’s fourth goal.

It summed up a spineless and inept display from United.

The one thing associated with Mourihno’s sides are that they are defensively robust and hard to score against.

They proved that against Liverpool on Monday night, although United were incredibly conservative. United set-up in a similar fashion on Sunday, but Chelsea scored four, and in truth should’ve scored more.

Conte was apparently given some touchline ethics from Mourinho – which is rather rich coming from someone who has antagonised opposition managers and supporters over the years with his ‘antics’ on the touchline.

‘JUVE’ GOT TO GIVE POGBA TIME

Paul Pogba is an exceptional talent, there’s no doubt about that, he has star quality and the ability to win a game on his own by producing a moment of absolute magic.

Is he the best player in the world? Absolutely not. He is the most expensive though, and that burden seems to be weighing down the former Juventus star.

However, Pogba has been a massive disappointment thus far, and while he’s only played a dozen or so games, his form has been abject to say the least.

United have played City, Liverpool and Chelsea and Pogba has been utterly ineffective in all three games. Yet, he was bought for those clashes, not for Thursday nights against Fenerbache.

He was purchased to control and stamp his authority on fixtures against the top teams in the league.

Bar, one flashing piece of brilliance at Anfield, in which Zlatan shoud’ve scored from his cross, Pogba has been dreadful.

Social media is an unforgiving terrain, and with every poor performance the media scrutiny over his performances intensify.

However, Pogba needs more time. Mourinho’s team selections haven’t helped him, but he will come good if he plays him in an advanced midfield role.

MICHAEL CARRICK HAS TO PLAY

He’s not the quickest player in the world, he’s not very aggressive and has never scored enough goals in his career. But Michael Carrick has to start for Manchester United.

He’s been an incredible player for the club, and he still has a lot to offer. His best days may well be behind him, but he’s the one Manchester United midfielder who can get his foot on the ball and still control and dictate games.

United don’t look balanced with Herrera, Fellaini and Pogba in the middle, and none possess the ability to sit in front of the back four and protect.

Carrick senses danger and protects the defence, while also offering a brilliant link between defence and attack.

He’s one of the best passers in the league, and by playing him in the middle you can play Pogba further up the park.

Carrick needs to start in midfield and if Mourinho continues to persist without him, United will continue to struggle in that central area.

ANTONIO THE GODFATHER

Chelsea have always had a love affair with Italians – the club’s supporters voted Gianfranco Zola as their best ever player.

They had Gianluca Vialli and Claudio Ranieri as managers, with the latter still being revered by the club’s supporters to this day.

Robert Di Matteo led them to Champions League glory in 2012 in Munich, so there’s a popular trend between Italians and Chelsea.

Antonio Conte arrived at Stamford Bridge with a big reputation, and after a sluggish start they now look like a slick outfit.

He’s passionate, and that will endear him to Chelsea supporters.

Since their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, Chelsea have won three on the bounce, and have looked brilliant.

They delivered an emphatic performance on Sunday, and displayed a level of ruthlessness not seen around Stamford Bridge for a long time. The result sent shockwaves around the league, and with this teak tough Italian at the helm, Chelsea fans are dreaming of reaching the summit once more.

With no Champions League football on offer, Conte can focus entirely and exclusively on the Premier League.

‘HAZARD’ WARNING FOR PREMIER LEAGUE DEFENCES

Eden Hazard was the PFA Player of the Year when Chelsea won the title in 2014/2015.

However, he suffered a drastic loss of form last season which was puzzling. Any player can go off the boil, but the outstanding player in English football was a shadow of his former himself.

Supporters thought he wanted out, he wasn’t happy, maybe Mourinho was the problem, he eventually got sacked, but Hazard still didn’t find his form.

In the last six weeks of the season, he started to emerge from the abyss he had been stuck in for the previous nine months.

He was impressive at times during the 2016 Euros, but this season he has been back to his brilliant best.

Chelsea fans are delighted to see the little genius back on song, and he destroyed United with a sensational display of craft and skill.

It’s an ominous sign for teams in the Premier League, as Conte’s Chelsea seek to regain the Premier League title they relinquished last season.