Although it was only matchday 13 of the Premier League season, Sunday marked an already make or break day in United's season if there was to be any slim chance of recovery in terms of a stance in the title race. It was imperative that United avoided defeat against the league leaders, with a 15 point deficit surely unsalvageable even at this early stage of the campaign.
There was already a massive talking point an hour prior to kickoff as Cristiano Ronaldo was named on the United bench against the league's best defence. The early indications suggested that Bruno Fernandes may be starting as a false nine, with no established striker in the side given Ronaldo's demotion to the bench. It seemed the maintained Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford would operate the flanks, but there was scope for change.
“We have come up with a plan like we do every game," said Michael Carrick.
"I have had a good chat with Cristiano and he was great. It is a decision to pick a team, we don’t need anymore drama than that. Everyone who has come out of the team has been terrific around the place - including Cristiano - and have been supporting the boys."
A livid Roy Keane in the Sky Sports studio, well, disagreed with the decision: "Ronaldo has not come back to Manchester United to sit on the bench. It’s very difficult to score when you’re on the bench.”
Elsewhere, Eric Bailly deputised alongside Victor Lindelof in place of the suspended Harry Maguire, with Phil Jones in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time in 650 days having been named on the bench. Mason Greenwood was another back with the squad having recovered from a bout of Covid-19, joining Jones on the bench. Luke Shaw, however, remained sidelined with concussion, thus it was made back-to-back starts for Alex Telles.
It looked a fearful midfield setup on paper, with three more defensive-minded midfielders on the pitch from the outset (Donny van de Beek had to settle for the bench again). There was a distinct lack of creativity aside from the front three, with such little threat that only three United players on the pitch had actually scored a league goal coming into the encounter.
It's fair to say Thomas Tuchel was at a loss with how United would actually set up with the personnel on the pitch, but it was almost certain that the mindset would be in parallel with the defensive approach against Villarreal.
From the first kick, those thoughts of the primary goal being to build on the midweek clean sheet were confirmed. It appeared Carrick was actually using a midfield diamond, funnily enough something Ralf Rangnick had been known to use in the past.
The United caretaker manager was quick to play down any speculation of the prospective interim boss having a say in the setup, with a simple answer of "no" - followed by credit for his own coaching staff - greeting speculative questions post-match.
Darren Fletcher, who is currently accompanying Carrick with a hands-on pitchside role, was often seen communicating with somebody via an earpiece. Again, questions were raised. However, there was said to be irritation at suggestions that Rangnick picked the team and that Fletcher was in touch with the German throughout the match yesterday.
Nemanja Matic was the anchor as the deepest of the deeper three midfielders, though Scott McTominay often dropped into a back three and played the role of an auxiliary centre back to nullify the threat of Chelsea's wingbacks. Hereby, Fred operated the more free role behind Fernandes. Interestingly, Sancho partnered Rashford in a front two.
It must be said, it took too long for United to emerge in the match. It took a matter of moments for Bailly to misjudge and lead to a Ziyech attempt, forcing David de Gea into early action. Almost instantly in subsequence, Aaron Wan-Bissaka proved all over the show too, with him and Lindelof making it far too simple for Callum Hudson-Odoi to find himdelf face-to-face with De Gea. Before the five minute mark, it could easily have been two if it wasn't for heroics by the United goalkeeper.
United were severely under the cosh. The early indications were not positive, with the system so passive that it offered an exponential invitation for Chelsea too attack. During those opening exchanges, the United midfield proved a literal non-entity whenever they were in possession. The numbers were certainly there, yet any dominance wasn't. This lack of quality gifted Chelsea a sizeable quantity of the early possession, hence their numerous chances.
In hand with their lack of control, the lack of creativity in the middle of the park left the attack isolated (and essentially also a non-entity). The knock on effects were certainly no beneficiary. As a result of the absence of supply, there were growing tendencies for the natural wingers deployed as the strikers to drift wide and further disjoint a dysfunctional attacking unit. It was a really incohesive system, from the attack back.
Decision making was poor again from United too, with a persistent scattering of errors. There was one good move that collapsed that proved the epitome, faltering when Fernandes opted to carelessly hit from range - wide - when there were clearly other, better options.
Out of possession, more Rangnick suspicion occured - there was actually an inkling to press; once again, though, it was stupidly obvious how poorly-drilled the current crop of players are when it comes to such approach. Eventually, it was too ineffective to warrant sustaining on a constant basis.
As Rangnick has said in the past, "A little bit of pressing? Come on, what is a little bit of pressing? A little bit of pressing is like a little bit of pregnant. Either you are pregnant or not? Either you want to play pressing or not?"
So, sitting deep it was - again. If United were to go any deeper, their players would end up in the River Thames - that was the Athletic's Andy Mitten's verdict. He wasn't wrong.
United were solid. Nothing more, infrequently less. Chelsea were limited to only a handful of chances, often half chances, as shown when Antonio Rudiger's ambitious strike from range somehow left the goal reverberating having clattered the crossbar. Although chances weren't flowing as such for the league leaders, they still came at United attack after attack.
United were rigid at the back, but struggled to really get on the ball. Chelsea were passing their opposition to death for quite some time, allowing nothing as and when the visitors did have momentary spells of possession. By the 35th minute, Chelsea had managed 54 final third passes compared to United's three. Three final third passes in 35 minutes.
Things did brighten up to an extent for those in red towards the close of the half, though the best opportunity they could function didn't even result in a shot. That chance came from a looped ball by Fred, with Sancho cleverly running off Thiago Silva but miscontrolling into Edouard Mendy's grasp.
Another encouraging move followed, but the theme of isolation was continued as Rashford found the crowded Fred his only option after a promising break.
It was underwhelming on the attacking front throughout the half, with Chelsea managing four times as many final third passes by the climax of the period; the hosts also trounced United by 10 shots to one, holding 68% possession. Nonetheless, as during the week, Carrick did achieve his seeming goal of keeping a clean sheet at the other end.
There were no alterations at the break, confirming that Carrick was content with what he saw from the opening period. His judgement soon proved righteous, with United taking the lead a mere five minutes after the resumption. It all stemmed from a routine Fernandes clearance, which was horrifically miscontrolled by Jorginho under pressure from the onrushing United strike force. Sancho was alert to pick the ball up around the halfway line, with an empty half for him to drive into. When facing up to Mendy, he initially shaped as though he was going to square the ball to Rashford, though soon provided a sensational feint to deceive the goalkeeper and slot softly into the corner.
The last week has given liftoff to the summer signing's career at the club. After a difficult start to life at United, it’s two goals in two matches for Sancho. He was bound to take time to adapt, and he’s now playing with confidence and is really beginning to excel.
You didn't only see how much the goal meant to the scorer, but to the entire group as they celebrated in front of the away supporters. The recent run has been a disaster, but the unity remains.
As he managed against Villarreal, Carrick had managed to inject some renewed life into his side as the second half progressed. The visitors looked far more assured in possession, and were playing with far more energy - thus the movement on display was also considerably improved.
Regardless, Chelsea still managed to maintain a creative edge amidst the United momentum. One rapid forward surge gave a huge opportunity to level affairs, though Ruben Loftus-Cheek's ball was hugely underwhelming following a classy reverse pass from Hakim Ziyech.
United now had the fight to respond, with a breakout of their own proving the revitalised influence of Rashford after a phase of being somewhat a passenger. However, Chelsea could always step up an extra gear to come back at United. Both sides showed threat, with the game growing more and more end-to-end.
It took until the 65th minute for Ronaldo to be introduced to the fray, replacing a fatigued-looking Sancho after yet another positive display. The Englishman wasn't moving all that freely as he departed, but there is bound to be physical tax given his lack of minutes over the course of the season so far.
Moments after Ronaldo's introduction, United found themselves facing the prospect of a Chelsea penalty. Given his attempts to clear the ball, it was unfortunate, yet there was no faulting the decision as Wan-Bissaka's wild swing caught Silva from behind after some scrappy defending from a corner. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time for the right back.
Having saved his previous three penalties saved, it wouldn't have been far-fetched to back De Gea. Not this time. Redemption for Jorginho. As always from the spot, it was classy and composed from the Italian to leave the United goalkeeper without much of a chance.
All of a sudden, Chelsea had every bit of the momentum. There were a ludicrous amount of corners won by the home side, ultimately ending the match with 15 corners to United's two. Once again, United were under immense duress.
Jesse Lingard became the second player introduced by Carrick with around 15 minutes to play, with Rashford making way as the complexity of the United system was altered once more.
The Chelsea impetus could hardly be halted. Wan-Bissaka was the second story of redemption within the match, denying a certain Timo Werner goal with a strong foot. It was trademark defending from the United man, even if Roy Keane claimed it was "his job".
Still, Chelsea kept coming and coming.
United were unable to string many passes together when they had the ball, which was again growing rare. There was a severe inferiority by way of quality in possession. United were forced to rely on breakaways, unable to sustain any phases of possession. The intensity was there at the start of the half, but this had diminished by the closing exchanges. Eradication of such fluctuations is a must.
Completely against the run of play, United had a golden opportunity to snatch all of the shares late on as Mendy gave the ball straight to Fred. The Brazilian had been impressive again, though he was the wrong man to be relied on to chip the goalkeeper. Squandered.
There were late minutes given to Donny van de Beek, who was unfortunate not to start. It was again slightly mystifying as to the neglection in a match where his energy would have proven a virtue. The Dutchman actually catalysed a strong period of additional time for United within a frantic five minutes, though it was Chelsea who should have won the game with the last kick.
Pinpoint is the only word to describe Christian Pulisic's cross, yet wasteful is an understatement when it comes to Rudiger's resultant volley. Free at the back of the box, the German blazed over the invite the fulltime whistle.
It was an agonising end for Chelsea, but wholly acceptable for United to take points of the league leaders under the current circumstances. The extreme gulf between United and those at the top of the league was unfortunately evident again - Chelsea's 24 shots to their opposition's three justified their dominance, though United's season-high 21 tackles also outlined their defensive developments. A point is acceptable.
De Gea summed things up perfectly again: “I was feeling danger for nearly the whole game. We defended well, they missed big chances and they gave us a chance and we scored. It is not enough to draw but the way we are at the moment it is a big point.”
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