As enduring images go, the sights of Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho being goaded by Chelsea’s masseur and then, in turn, goading the home support will take some beating.
These scenes – both comical and distasteful, in equal measure – came after substitute Ross Barkley’s 96th-minute tap-in for the hosts secured a pulsating 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. It isn’t always boring then, when the ‘Special One’ is back in town.
The result, no matter the late sting in the tail, allows Mourinho to fight another day from a risible ninth place in the standings. As for the hosts, it provided ample insight into why they will come up short in their bid for Premier League glory.
Deficiencies in both penalty areas should undermine hopes of keeping pace with champions Manchester City and Liverpool.
David Luiz rattled the post in the build-up to Barkley’s leveller. Yet the ex-Brazil centre-back was dragged badly out of position in the build-up to Anthony Martial’s delightful second.
Antonio Rudiger went one better and put Maurizio Sarri’s men ahead with a first-half header. Just like his defensive partner, the Germany centre-back did not exude the assuredness provided by predecessors such as John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and William Gallas.
When United woke from their slumber after the interval, they were repeatedly exposed and hurried. The visitors’ second was a case in point.
Caution should have been the emotion which went through Luiz’s mind when Juan Mata raced clear out wide. But like a puppy drawn to a bouncing ball, his natural antics were to helplessly bound over – disaster followed.
Rudiger boasted two tackles and Luiz just one. Hardly granite figures. Where they fit into Sarri’s plans is shown by the fact they led the way with six long balls each.
95:27 - Ross Barkley's goal was the latest Man Utd have conceded in the Premier League since October 2009, when David Ngog also scored against them at 95:27 for Liverpool. Drama. #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/pxrpCAuvVz
This Chelsea play at tempo, boast a high defensive line and are happy to ping it about when controlling midfielder Jorginho isn’t in possession. A laudable approach from Sarri, whose gone trophyless throughout his career despite all the plaudits won at Napoli, but is it a winning one?
Tellingly, Chelsea’s seven goals conceded during nine fixtures is more than double pacesetters Liverpool and Manchester City (three). This discrepancy extrapolated over a season is not sustainable for a potential title challenger.
Up top, the same principle applies to Eden Hazard. The Belgium forward buzzed through the first half, but sunk – like his team – in the second.
When he fires a blank, who can stand up? Spain striker Alvaro Morata was typically unassured on the turn in the second half, while substitute Olivier Giroud has scored once in his last 23 matches for club and country.
Hazard’s seven goals equals 35 per cent of the Blues’ overall top-flight tally. At City, Sergio Aguero’s six goals represents just 23 per cent.
For Liverpool, four goals for Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah is 25 per cent.
A lack of faith in Morata and Giroud was noticeable when Chelsea’s wide players picked up the ball. Hazard’s 2018/19 average of three attempts per EPL game is substantially more than Morata (two) and Giroud (1.6) for a reason.
The burden on the brilliant Hazard was too much on Saturday and should prove too much throughout 2018/19.
