Manchester United moved up to third and confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League with a 4-1 win over Chelsea as Erik ten Hag urged the club to bring in “better players” to help mount a title challenge next season.
Casemiro headed in Christian Eriksen’s free-kick early in the game and Anthony Martial added a second from close range in first-half stoppage time. In between, Frank Lampard’s side squandered a series of excellent chances and their wastefulness was costly.
Bruno Fernandes won and scored a penalty before Wesley Fofana, the man who had conceded the spot-kick, proceeded to gift the Portugal midfielder the ball for the fourth, allowing him to set up substitute Marcus Rashford. It was wretched from Chelsea.
It is one win in 13 games for them now – 10 of them under Lampard. This was the youngest Blues line-up in Premier League history. Neither that nor Joao Felix’s late goal provide much consolation. Where they lacked conviction, Casemiro and the rest were decisive.
The only disappointment for United, who move above Newcastle, was a troubling injury to Antony. But it was an otherwise good night for Erik ten Hag’s team. They needed one point to end Liverpool’s hopes of catching them. They won all three in style.
Speaking in the press conference afterwards, Ten Hag stressed the next step is not just about further improvement on the training ground but will also be partially dependent on what United are able to do in the summer transfer window.
The final day of the Premier League season is on Sunday May 28 with every game kicking off at 6.30pm EAT
Manchester United end their first league season under Erik ten Hag with a home game against Fulham. United then take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3.
Frank Lampard’s final game as Chelsea caretaker manager will see them welcome Newcastle to Stamford Bridge.
