Chelsea 0-0 Man United: Blunt giants bore fans in a goalless draw

Chelsea 0-0 Man United: Blunt giants bore fans in a goalless draw

On the move! Mason Mount of Chelsea drives forward in the goalless draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Manchester United are second on the log, laudable considering how poor they were at the start of the season but their records against the traditional “big six” remain the reason why they can’t compete for the title.

Chelsea hosted Manchester United on Sunday with fans and observers hoping for a sensational affair.

One needed a win to keep the title race open after City’s narrow win over Westham on Saturday and the other needed a win to break into the top four and keep momentum alive, none showed intent throughout the boring game.

There were flashes in the course of the 90minutes, there were reasons for David De Gea and Edouard Mendy to parry balls and make routine saves.

But there wasn’t a moment of note you can credit to either side and it remains worrying to see City run away with the title as it stands.

Thomas Tuchel rang changes as usual, still seeking his perfect eleven, chopping and shoving which has yielded results continued with Timo Werner and Reece James dropped to the bench and midweek champions league hero Olivier Giroud got the nod upfront.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer didn’t have Edison Cavani to call on so he handed Marcus Rashford the opportunity in the middle, flanked by Bruno Fernandes and Daniel James, Fred and Scott McTominay continued as the pivot.

There was a very big penalty shout for the visitors as Callum Hudson-Odoi handled in the area but Stuart Attwell ruled it out with post-match ramblings suggesting he was afraid of “plenty talks”.

Tuchel was adamant after the game that it wasn't a penalty or even necessary of a VAR review.

"How can this be a VAR intervention? The player in red plays the ball with the hand and then we are checking for a penalty? Why does the referee have to see this," he said.

"I've seen it on the iPad, I don't understand why the referee has to check it but I'm glad it was no penalty. That would make it even worse."

However, his United counterpart Ole Gunnar Soskjaer was less than happy with Attwell's decision.

"It was a penalty, 100% nailed on. If that's a natural position for a hand to be in when the ball comes in then I must be blind," he said after the game.

Hakim Ziyech had a great opportunity to open the scoring for Chelsea three minutes into the second half when Ben Chilwell struck a cross into the box. 

However, rather than putting the ball into the empty space on David De Gea's right, Ziyech struck the ball straight at the United No. 1.

Despite Chelsea enjoying the majority of the possession -- they had over 80% for the first 10 minutes of the second half -- United had their chances too with the best falling to McTominay on the hour mark.

United played the ball around the box before eventually, it found its way to McTominay on the right who struck a strong ball at Mendy who did enough to save it.

"I thought we were closer to winning it, but there was a lot of quality on the pitch," Tuchel added. "Performance-wise I'm satisfied. We defended very well in the last line and I'm very happy with that.

"We take what we got. I'm absolutely happy. Against a team like Man United you don't get many chances."