Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was impressed by Manchester United’s intensity and desire during their much-needed 2-1 Premier League victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Erik ten Hag needed a response and my word he got one.
Just four days after that insipid, toothless defeat at Newcastle, Manchester United flew out of the blocks when old rivals Chelsea arrived at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Sofyan Amrabat and match-winner Scott McTominay battering through brick walls and making a mockery of claims that Erik ten Hag had lost the dressing room.
Chelsea outclassed by Manchester United
“What Man United did really well was suffocate Chelsea. They pressed and they won a lot of balls in Chelsea’s half,” Hasselbaink, who scored 87 goals during four seasons at Stamford Bridge, tells Amazon Prime.
“(They played like they) would have died for the shirt tonight, they were determined to win. (Ten Hag) is going to go home really, really happy, even if he doesn’t show it.”
Antony, Amrabat and Fernandes produced arguably their finest performances of the campaign, the captain leading by example with a display of ferocity and finesse. McTominay, meanwhile, is already enjoying his best-ever scoring season in the Premier League, taking his tally to five with a smart first-half volley and a crunching second-half header.
And the 2-1 scoreline does not reflect the sheer dominance of a United side who, on another day, could have equalled or even bettered their four-goal hammering of Chelsea from back in May.
Ten Hag’s much-improved side managed nearly 30 shots on goal and posted an XG of over four.
Back in form
“The only criticism I can give them is they created a lot of chances. You need to bury those,” Hasselbaink adds, Rasmus Hojlund still waiting for a first domestic goal and Fernandes missing an early penalty.
“This is where they should improve significantly. They need to score more goals.”
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