Independent:
Louis van Gaal sees improved performance at Old Trafford - but not enough to win
Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0
Mark Ogden
So Louis van Gaal limps on, but it sums up the current state of Manchester United that a goalless draw at Old Trafford against a team hovering three points above the relegation zone is regarded as a sign of progress.
At least the four-game losing streak came to an end against a Chelsea team on course to deliver the worst defence of a title in the Premier League era, but every silver lining has a cloud and this stalemate extended United’s winless run to eight games in all competitions.
Eight games without a victory and the sixth time this season that United have failed to score in front of their own supporters – these really are bleak times for Van Gaal and his team and it is remarkable that the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, chose to pose for selfies with supporters in the directors’ box at the end of the game.
Having surrendered 2-0 at Stoke City on Boxing Day, United were more adventurous and cohesive against Chelsea and they should have won, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing referee Martin Atkinson reject two strong second-half penalty appeals.
But there were also narrow escapes, with goalkeeper David De Gea twice producing world-class saves to keep United on equal terms before Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic spurned a glorious late chance to win the game.
Still, the draw is likely to prove enough to keep Van Gaal on life support until the visit of Swansea City at the weekend, but even Woodward will struggle to keep faith with the Dutchman if the managerless Welsh club extend United’s search for a win.
Swansea provided the opposition for Van Gaal’s first game in charge of United, in August 2014, and they may well be his last if they return to Wales with three points as they did 16 months ago.
Having started this game level on points with Watford and behind Crystal Palace, it was clear that United were in need of a change of fortune against a Chelsea team still feeling the aftershocks of Jose Mourinho’s dismissal. But United’s ill luck reared its head within two minutes of the kick-off when Juan Mata was denied a well-worked opener by the Chelsea crossbar.
The Spaniard, who has flattered to deceive at Old Trafford since arriving from Stamford Bridge in January 2014, was unlucky to see his first-time shot from Wayne Rooney’s pass rattle against the bar, but those are the margins that are hurting United right now.
In response, and continuing the frenetic start, John Terry was denied only by a stunning De Gea save on five minutes when the Chelsea captain’s header from Willian’s corner was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the United goalkeeper.
The end-to-end action went on, with United dominating possession, and Morgan Schneiderlin sent a curling right-foot shot wide from 20 yards before the impressive Anthony Martial weaved between two Chelsea defenders and struck the inside of the post on 16 minutes.
Chelsea were unable to secure a foothold in the game, with United winning the midfield battle, but the home side lacked quality in the final third and the near misses continued.
Martial went close again and Mata’s poor delivery from the right flank frustrated Rooney on two occasions before the United captain, restored to the starting line-up and playing as though he had a point to prove, forced Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into action with a powerful right-foot strike from 30 yards.
But half-time arrived and United had, once again, failed to make a first-half breakthrough.
Not since September have United scored in the first half at Old Trafford and the anxiety that blunt edge creates invariably leads to a more cautious, nervy approach after the interval. That pattern continued, with the likes of Woodward, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill and Sir Bobby Charlton watching on, looking increasingly morose in the posh seats.
Chelsea contributed to the creeping tension in the second half, however.
With Guus Hiddink back in interim charge following Mourinho’s departure 11 days ago, the ship has been steadied, but Chelsea are in a mess nonetheless.
Last season’s swagger and confidence have evaporated and the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa – suspended for this game – have been playing as though their minds are elsewhere.
It was Manchester United versus Chelsea, the two most successful clubs of the Premier League era, but not since this fixture was about Graeme Hogg versus John Bumstead in the 1980s has it felt so irrelevant and mediocre.
Both teams went into the second half attempting to win, but clearly more concerned about the damage of defeat, and an early flurry, marked by a double De Gea save from Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta and a point-blank Courtois save from Ander Herrera, was followed by greater caution.
Matic’s miss on 62 minutes, after being set free by Pedro on a counter-attack, was a sign of the nerves afflicting both sets of players, but it was a shocker, with the Serb clear on goal before blazing high over the bar from 18 yards.
United huffed and puffed, with only Martial offering any kind of zest until he was shunted from left to right in order to accommodate substitute Memphis Depay midway through the second half.
But having been denied penalties when Willian handled and Azpilicueta fouled Mata, United were unable to provide a finishing touch to their possession and build-up play.
When Rooney fired a volley high and wide from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross on 86 minutes – moments before Rooney was booked for a reckless foul on Oscar – it was a sign that United’s luck was not going to turn.
Van Gaal may believe, or even hope, that his fortune may be changing, having seen his team arrest their slump, but it would be foolish to think the Dutchman has weathered the storm.
One United supporter had turned up at Old Trafford with a banner which read – LVG: Leave, Vanish, Go – so the frustrations in the stands cannot be overlooked.
Another failure to win on Saturday and that supporter may get his wish.
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Guardian:
Manchester United’s fighting spirit fails to break Chelsea resistance
Man Utd 0 - 0 Chelsea
Daniel Taylor at Old Trafford
At least, among all the indignities Louis van Gaal has had to confront recently, Manchester United’s sequence of defeats has been ended one short of it becoming their worst run in a single season since December 1936. Their winless stretch has, however, been extended to eight matches and their new reputation as 0-0 specialists cannot sit easily for a club with their love of adventure. This was their fifth in the last eight games at Old Trafford although, on a more positive note, the performance was reasonable enough for Van Gaal to be spared the crowd’s wrath.
Whether it will be enough to keep him in a job remains to be seen but there were signs that the spirit of this team is not entirely broken and that, in turn, would make it a surprise if he is not in charge for Saturday’s game at home to Swansea. Their imperfections are numerous but United did at least show in spells they can remove the tactical straightjacket and start to play the old way, with width and penetration, and the crowd seemed to appreciate what they were watching.
The opening 45 minutes was their best for some time and it was their willingness to take a few risks, something their supporters will always tolerate, that explained, in part, why they lost their structure during the later exchanges.
A better side than Chelsea might have taken advantage in a slightly dishevelled second half and the match has to be put in the context that the team Guus Hiddink has just inherited are drifting through the most implausible title defence in memory, fifth from bottom in the league but too haughty to think of themselves in genuine relegation danger, while so far adrift they have nothing left to chase.
All the same it was an improvement from Van Gaal’s team. They have failed to score in 11 of their 26 league fixtures since April and there are all sorts of galling statistics attached to Van Gaal reign, featuring a lower win ratio than David Moyes’ time in charge. The bottom line, however, is that this did not seem a performance that would end in the manager being fired or choosing to sever ties himself.
“There is no reason to sack me,” Van Gaal said afterwards, sounding newly emboldened.
The Dutchman had talked of his team not “daring to play” when they lost at Stoke City on Boxing Day but there was nothing timid about the shot Juan Mata cracked against Thibaut Courtois’s crossbar in the opening exchanges and the same again, on 17 minutes, when Anthony Martial’s low drive struck a post, flashed across the goalmouth and spun out of play. United were indebted to David de Gea at times but nobody could accuse them of plodding, sideways football. That felt like a start given the allegation that has circled them of repetitive dreariness.
Equally it could conceivably have become another ordeal for the team that is now five points off the top four. Chelsea will reflect on the occasions when David de Gea’s goalkeeping saved his team and, more than anything, the counter-attacking move that finished with Nemanja Matic galloping clear for the game’s outstanding chance.
Matic might wake in a cold sweat when he thinks about what happened next. De Gea is a formidable goalkeeper to beat but the Chelsea player made a terrible hash of his shot, putting the ball into the crowd when he had the time and space to pick his spot.
Playing on the break, Chelsea’s attack looked light in the absence of the suspended Diego Costa, if only because it meant they did not have a natural striker for the role. Eden Hazard’s tendency was to roam to wide positions and in the first half, lacking anyone to hold up the ball, they were pinned back for long spells. Ashley Young and Matteo Darmian had the licence to advance from United’s full-back positions. Martial’s directness and quick feet made him a difficult opponent and United generally look a more rounded team when Marouane Fellaini is not in the starting line-up.
The temptation to aim the ball high was removed and United began the game with the kind of quick tempo that has become a rarity under Van Gaal.
The mood might have been entirely different if De Gea had not turned John Terry’s header over the crossbar from an early corner but Chelsea did not have the impetus that is usually expected of them on these occasions. The champions did improve after the interval and, shortly before the Matic miss, there was a wonderful double save from De Gea to keep out Pedro’s shot and then turn away the follow-up effort from César Azpilicueta.
Courtois’s reflexes to keep out Anders Herrera at the other end showed there is still competition to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the league and Van Gaal was left to rue Wayne Rooney’s late miss and a couple of reasonable penalty claims. It was a scrappy finish, with both teams demonstrating why they are struggling, and Rooney leaving the imprints of his studs on Oscar’s leg.
Ultimately, though, Chelsea will be happier, having gone three matches unbeaten in the league for the first time this season. Van Gaal will have heard the boos at the end but there was sympathetic applause elsewhere in the ground and little sense that the tall man making his way along the touchline would not be back next weekend.
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Telegraph:
Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0
Improved United draw yet another blank
Louis Van Gaal's side show attacking intent but manager's future remains in doubt
Jason Burt
What a difference 48 hours make. Two days after hinting that he could quit as Manchester United manager, two days after he appeared a broken man at the Britannia Stadium, two days after it seemed he had lost belief in himself, Louis van Gaal came out fighting. His team, also, came out fighting. At last.
“There is no reason to sack me,” Van Gaal declared afterwards while also claiming, somewhat implausibly, that he had been misquoted when he spoke of the possibility of resigning in the wake of that 2-0 defeat away by Stoke City on Boxing Day when he seemed so crushed.
“You’ve seen that the players are fighting for me,” Van Gaal said. “I am fully confident in the board and my players. There is no reason to resign.”
No reason to resign; no reason to be sacked, then. That confidence has been communicated to Van Gaal in the past days, and the previous week, by United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who is fighting his man’s corner amid the mounting pressure and suggestions that the manager might even walk away having lost a little belief.
But the killer phrase from Van Gaal, who after his bullishness also admitted he was “concerned” he might be sacked, was that he would “always stay” when he believed the “players are fighting for me”. It was a suggestion that this was a pivotal performance; a line in the sand.
Up until this match it appears Van Gaal feared that was no longer the case.
Despite his disdain, his convoluted explanation, his upbraiding of his inquisitors, he has shown a peculiar vulnerability of late.
Whether this goalless draw – goalless although full of opportunities and gilded by two wonderful goalkeeping performances – against a Chelsea side who are themselves fighting to rediscover their own identity is good enough remains to be seen.
United do not want to sack Van Gaal mid-season but the they will be forced to if this run continues. They are five points off the top four and the gap is growing.
Despite the shoots of recovery it is another game without a victory, a winless streak now extended to eight matches in all competitions, and another goalless draw at Old Trafford – a stadium used to goals, attacking play, thrills and spills.
It is just one goal in the past four home matches; six goalless draws at this stadium – five in the plast eight matches. They have failed to score in 11 Premier League games since April and nine in all this campaign.
But, beyond those damning statistics, this was a vastly improved performance from United and their manager.
The shackles came off perhaps because there was nothing left to do. The straitjacket was loosened. The sideways play replaced by a desire to finally “attack, attack, attack” and, for once, the home supporters did not feel moved to chant that in frustration.
Afterwards there was even applause for Van Gaal – not necessarily to back him but because, as former players such as Rio Ferdinand and Peter Schmeichel later pointed out, he had finally ceded to allow the players to play the way they and the supporters wanted them to.
Did Van Gaal decide to do it or was he told? Did he simply give in to what was demanded of him or realise himself that his philosophy had to change? Again only time will tell.
There was an air that something had to give prior to kick-off with United’s plight masking that of the visitors, who arrived so close to the relegation zone it still seems unreal and without the suspended Diego Costa and the ill Cesc Fabregas and with caretaker manager Guus Hiddink still trying to piece together fractured confidence after a horrific first half of the season that had led to Jose Mourinho’s dismissal.
Were United good or Chelsea simply bad? Long before the final whistle it evened itself out and a draw was – probably – a fair result but in that opening half-hour it was a throw-back, a little, to the United of old with Wayne Rooney reinvigorated and leading the attack as they threw players forward at pace.
By the end, however, Rooney could have been sent off for an ugly challenge on Oscar and had wasted two glorious opportunities to score. There was not much here for the rest of the Premier League to fear.
Van Gaal also, understandably, questioned why United were not awarded two penalties – both in the second half – when the ball reared up and struck Willian on the arm and then when Juan Mata was challenged by Cesar Azpilicueta as he threatened to skirt around the Chelsea defender. Both appeals were waved away by referee Martin Atkinson.
But there was so much more intent for United to cling on to and so much more resolve from Chelsea, also, who will point to the performances of central defenders John Terry and Kurt Zouma and the relentless work of Eden Hazard, who doubled his effort to cover two roles: that of No 10 and also, in Costa’s absence and with Loïc Remy injured, as his team’s central striker.
Within two minutes United could have scored when Rooney played the ball from Ashley Young’s throw-to Mata, who arrowed a first-time left-foot shot from the corner of the area against the crossbar.
Anthony Martial, also one invigorated and unleashed, worked his way in from the left and struck a low shot that also beat Thibaut Courtois but hit the inside of the post and squirted across the goal.
By then David de Gea had made the first of three outstanding saves as he, tipped over Terry’s header from a corner before, at the other end, Courtois alertly pushed out a fierce Rooney shot.
There was a lull and then both sides went again. Hazard slalomed forward before slipping the ball through to Pedro, who bent his shot. De Gea parried with the rebound falling to Azpilicueta only for the goalkeeper to recover brilliantly and beat it away.
It was then Courtois excelling as Martial ran free down the left and crossed for Ander Herrera to turn the ball goalwards from close range. It seemed a goal – only for it to be anticipated by Courtois, who dived to his left to block.
The chances continued with Chelsea breaking quickly and Nemanja Matic making a great run that was picked out by Pedro with a cross-field pass that sent the midfielder clear. He had time, he had space – and he also had a team-mate with Hazard on his shoulder – but he chose to shoot and blazed high over the bar.
Then Rooney spurned his two chances – missing Mata’s lofted ball forward when through on goal and then blazing a volley over at the far post. It remained goalless but it certainly was not soulless and there will be relief in that.
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Mail:
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea:
Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera squander golden opportunities during goalless Old Trafford affair
By MARTIN SAMUEL
It may not be appreciated by the disillusioned masses, but there are at least two very good reasons to keep an eye on Manchester United and Chelsea this season. The goalkeepers.
David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois were quite exceptional. Faultless, one might say, and not just because they didn’t have much to do. This was really quite a good game, despite those twin zeros. Manchester United were livelier than they have been for some time and Chelsea carved out some extremely good chances, although not many of them, due to the absence of a specialist goalscorer.
Even so, the reason the match stayed goalless, beyond some wasteful finishing, was De Gea and Courtois. Both made outstanding saves and, when Courtois could not, the woodwork came to Chelsea’s rescue. It was a useful point for the visitors, more so than Manchester United, but it is not a result that should affect Louis van Gaal’s job prospects dramatically. This is United’s longest run without a win since 1990 and their sixth 0-0 draw at Old Trafford this season, and that is not a good look on any manager.
Yet Ed Woodward, the Manchester United chief executive, does not want to sack Van Gaal – not least because it would reflect poorly on him – and this game did not give him great reason to act.
Swansea and Sheffield United at home, and Newcastle away, are up next, all winnable matches, and Woodward will be hoping Van Gaal’s luck changes naturally. The league table continues to make unpleasant viewing though; United are in sixth place, nine points off leaders Arsenal, and could be 11 points shy if Leicester beat Manchester City. Not that a Manchester City win would be hugely preferable – that would leave United trailing their annoying neighbours by eight points.
Of course, Chelsea would swap places in a heartbeat. They are 15 points off the Champions League spots and three points off relegation. When Chelsea’s fans mocked Manchester United’s Champions League exit with a chant of ‘Thursday night, Channel 5’ – an insult that would have hurt BT just as much, having had the rights to Europa League football since the start of the season – they were crushed instantly with a riposte of ‘Going down, going down’. It rather summed up the reduced status of this fixture. When the list came out it would have been seen as a potential title decider, after all.
Delightfully, though, it was not the damp squib many expected. The scoreline may have been predictable but the football was not. It didn’t look like sixth versus 16th – the position of both teams at kick-off – and United in particular were vastly improved. Not dull, not dour, not cagey – for the first hour at least they went at it hammer and tongs, on the front foot like the good old days.
Considering the torpor that had preceded this, even in home games, it was hard to tell whether United’s players had sniffed the wind and decided to ignore Van Gaal’s conservative instincts, or whether a retro blast of high tempo attacking football was the manager’s last attempt to keep his job. Either way, it worked. United went in at half-time goalless, but not to the familiar derision. This was their best 0-0 of the season – an ambitious 0-0, at least until late in the game when the rigours of holiday football seemed to take their toll.
United started early, the game just three minutes old when Rooney fed the ball back to Juan Mata, whose shot was smacked against the bar. It seemed to set the standard – seven minutes later, Rooney laid the ball to Morgan Schneiderlin, from an Ander Herrera cross, and the Frenchman’s shot flew narrowly wide. Anthony Martial, deployed on the left, came close after 18 minutes, cutting inside and striking a shot that defeated Courtois but not the near post – and Rooney had an ambitious effort from a full 30 yards out athletically tipped over by Courtois approaching the half hour.
His best was yet to come, however. In the 56th minute, Herrera was in an excellent position to convert a Martial cross from close range. The Belgian scrambled across and somehow met the ball, saving and clearing at the same time. Late on, substitute Cameron Borthwick-Jackson found Rooney at the far post, but his shot was wild. It was a pity. He had played well until that point, linking excellently and working hard, as usual. That does not mean Manchester United would not benefit from a 25-goal striker, though. Rooney is a different player to five years ago.
Chelsea were short of a striker, too, although their problems are temporary. Diego Costa – who scored two goals in a game for the first time since January, then picked up the yellow card that triggered a suspension to ensure he, and his club, could not capitalise on it – was absent and Loic Remy stayed on the bench, meaning forward duties were shared between Eden Hazard, Oscar and Pedro.
Hazard was the most central figure and took the requisite kicking. They were queuing up for him – Chris Smalling, then Herrera, then Daley Blind. Referee Martin Atkinson could definitely have afforded more protection. Rooney was fortunate too, in the second half, when a quite dreadful challenge on Oscar only drew a yellow card. He was high, late and seemed to ignore the ball for the man. It could easily have been a straight red card.
And, earlier, a penalty to United, too. Willian, in lots of space, miscontrolled the ball and brought it to order only with what appeared the deliberate use of his left arm. Atkinson was already anticipating the clearance and was looking upfield. Where the linesman was looking, God knows.
Yet, while Chelsea rode their luck, they also produced several quite excellent chances that could have won the game with better finishing and less efficient goalkeeping.
In the fifth minute, John Terry met a corner from the right and forced a brilliant save from De Gea and, at the start of the second half he was needed again. Hazard set Pedro clear and he jinked into the penalty area only for De Gea to block his shot. Cesar Azpilicueta was first to the rebound and De Gea saved again. He didn’t have a whole lot to do, but what he did was impressive. Fortunately, on the one occasion he could have been in trouble, Chelsea blew the chance. Nemanja Matic broke through alone after a sweet pass from Pedro but, a full stride ahead of the pursuing pack, he snatched at his finish and ballooned it over the bar. It’s fair to say he’s a better screen than a shot.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 8.5; Young 7, Smalling 6, Blind 5.5 (Jones 81), Darmian 6 (Borthwick-Jackson 70, 6.5); Schneiderlin 7, Schweinsteiger 6.5; Mata 6 (Depay 77, 5), Herrera 7, Martial 7.5; Rooney 6
Booked: Smalling, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Rooney
Subs not used: Romero, Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 8; Ivanovic 5, Zouma 6.5, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 6; Mikel 6, Matic 5; Willian 5.5 (Ramires 70, 6), Oscar 6 (Loftus-Cheek 93), Pedro 6.5; Hazard 7.5
Booked: Mikel, Hazard
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Traore, Djilobodji, Kenedy
Referee: Martin Atkinson 7
Attendance: 75,275
Ratings by Chris Wheeler
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Mirror:
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea: 5 things we learned as Louis van Gaal's men's winless run continued
BY DAVID MCDONNELL
United couldn't make the territorial and possession advantage count and had to settle for a point against a dogged Blues side at Old Trafford
Louis van Gaal remained on the brink as Manchester United extended their winless run to eight against Chelsea.
Wayne Rooney wasted the best chance of the game while Juan Mata and Anthony Martial saw shots cannon off the woodwork in an improved performance from the surrender at Stoke of 48 hours ago.
But United couldn't make the territorial and possession advantage count and had to settle for a point against a dogged Blues side.
Here's what we learned at Old Trafford:
United's lack of goals have proven Van Gaal's undoing
A seventh goalless draw this season, United's fifth in their last eight games at home in all competitions, summed up the dirge served up under Louis van Gaal.
United may have played with more purpose and energy in the first-half, but they still lacked the necessary killer touch where it mattered, to provide them with the hard currency of a goal.
United have scored just 10 goals in their last 14 games in all competitions, a paltry return for Van Gaal's £280million spend in his 18 months in charge.
Van Gaal's substitutions remain baffling
In a game he simply had to win, Van Gaal's changes proved curious to say the least.
Changing Matteo Darmian for Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was understandable, given this was the latter's first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Champions League exit to Wolfsburg three weeks ago.
But bringing on Phil Jones for Daley Blind, a straight defensive swap, when United needed to plunder a goal, was odd.
Van Gaal's tactics and approach have raised eyebrows at times, and this was another occasion where his negative mindset, of protecting a game rather than going for it, came to the fore.
De Gea proves he's irreplaceable
With rumours of Real Madrid having revived their interest in De Gea, United's goalkeeper provided a timely reminder of his enduring value with a remarkable fingertip save to keep out a John Terry header after four minutes.
He produced further heroics with a second-half double save fom Pedro and Cesas Azpilicueta.
Despite signing a new deal, when his move to Real collapsed on deadline day, De Gea is certain to be the subject of a fresh bid from Mardrid next summer.
Given the current turmoil at United, he is one player they cannot afford to lose.
Martial continues to shine
He may have failed to maintain the explosive start to his United career that saw him score four goals in as many games, but Martial, a £36million summer signing from Monaco, has continued to look a danger, even when Louis van Gaal's side have been struggling.
Here he gave Branislav Ivanovic a torrid time, cutting in from the left and hitting the near post with a low effort.
Throughout the game he caused Chelsea problems with his pace, quick feet and direct running, a shaft of light amid the recent gloom at United.
Matic blew a glorious chance to win game
As a holding midfielder, Matic is not renowned for his finishing skills, but even he will shudder when he sees a replay of his miss, just after the hour, that could have won Chelsea the game.
When Ander Herrera missed a header, Chelsea burst forward on the counter-attack, Pedro finding Matic, who had only De Gea to beat.
The United keeper came out and spread himself well, but Matic's scooped effort high and wide was truly woeful and received its rightful dose of derision from the home support.
In a game where Chelsea had few chances, Matic had to show better composure, and it proved a costly miss.
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Express:
Man United 0 - Chelsea 0: Louis van Gaal on the brink after eighth game without a win
LOUIS VAN GAAL saw his side go eight games without win as they were held by Chelsea at Old Trafford.
By BRUCE ARCHER
Louis van Gaal's side went eight games without a win after drawing tonight
United did, however, end a run of four defeats in a row - but whether that's enough to save the Dutchman's job remains to be seen.
Van Gaal hinted he could quit following the Boxing Day defeat to Stoke and had been given these two games to save his job.
One defeat and one draw. No goals.
The performance, however, was an improvement on the placid and dull football seen by United in recent weeks but the face of Jose Mourinho on scarves ahead of kick off has done little to dampen the belief that Van Gaal's time is nearly up.
United are now one game from matching the 1973 record of nine games without a win and will try and equal that when they face Swansea on January 2.
Juan Mata rattled the crossbar after just two minutes against his old club before David de Gea was forced into a brilliant save from John Terry's bullet header in a lively start.
Anthony Martial then hit the post before being denied a penalty when he went down under pressure from Kurt Zouma.
United started with a better tempo than in recent weeks and got joy out of the wings with Juan Mata and full-back Ashley Young linking up well.
The midfield axis of the returning Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin seemed to give United a better platform and, with Chelsea missing both Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, the visitors has no early answer after Terry's header.
Wayne Rooney also returned after being dropped to the bench for the Stoke defeat.
But United couldn't maintain the pace and by the half hour mark the two sides were close to their recent levels with a number of niggly fouls being punished with yellow cards.
Chris Smalling, Morgan Schneiderlin and John Obi-Mikel all went into the book - with Pedro and Ander Herrera lucky not to join them - before the sides walked in goalless at the break.
De Gea made a fantastic double save at the start of the second half to Eden Hazard with his right hand then to Cesar Azpilicueta with his left - with Chelsea's best efforts since Terry's early header before United regained control.
It was Thibaut Courtois' turn to demonstrate his talents next when he saved Herrera's close-ranger effort after Martial's low delivery into the box.
United had a second penalty shout when the ball hit Willian's hand in the area but it was waved away by Martin Atkinson.
Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic then showed why he's only scored once so far this season when he skied over when one-on-one with De Gea from Hazard's perfectly-measured through ball.
Rooney missed a great chance with five minutes to go as he failed to get the right connection on Cameron Borthwick Jackson's fizzed cross in from the left.
The England captain was involved in a moment of controvesy when he went studs up on Oscar late on.
Despite the early promise neither side could break the deadlock. Chelsea move up to 14th with draw while United stay sixth and are now five points off the top four.
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Star:
Man Utd 0 Chelsea 0: Pressure still on Van Gaal as Rooney fluffs lines in stalemate
LOUIS VAN GAAL was left clinging to his job after Nemanja Matic blew a golden chance to send the Manchester United boss packing once and for all.
By Jeremy Cross,
How this clash finished goalless will remain a bigger mystery than United’s shocking demise under Van Gaal that has now seen them go eight games without a win.
A much improved display by the home side saw them denied by some fabulous goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois.
But despite a performance that suggests Van Gaal might be spared for the moment, Chelsea and Matic still wasted the best opening of the game in the final quarter that would have surely sunk United and seen the Dutchman heading for the dole queue.
Yet Courtois’ brilliance was matched by opposite number David De Gea, who equalled his rival save-for-save - with his biggest one of all appearing to be Van Gaal’s immediate future.
The Dutchman came into this defining game looking like a broken man who had had all his famous arrogance and confidence drained from him.
Events of recent weeks had brought him to his knees and left him admitting he could even quit one of the most prestigious jobs in world football.
No win in seven games and four straight league defeats had taken their toll and the last time the latter happened was in 1961, when John F Kennedy was in the Oval Office and the Berlin Wall was only being built, let alone knocked down.
United are also out of the Champions League and setting records for all the wrong reasons to leave the doubting Dutchman staring into a very dark hole.
Van Gaal has become a figure of fun, with even the scarf sellers outside Old Trafford joining in by selling souvenirs with Jose Mourinho’s face on them.
Mourinho was nowhere to be seen, with even the Special One resisting the temptation to have the cheek to show up as an interested spectator in the directors’ box to watch his former team and perhaps his future one.
But his shadow still loomed large over this famous stadium as it hosted what most people expected be Louis’s last stand.
His perilous position threatened to detract from the fact this fixture was once the pinnacle of the Premier League season - but now resembled a slugfest between two punch drunk boxers way past their best.
The Blues arrived in Manchester just two points above the relegation zone season following one of the worst title defences on record.
They had already sacked their manager, of course, which meant Guus Hiddink now resumed battle with his old rival and had the chance to finally finish him off.
Van Gaal made four changes and some notables ones too, recalling Wayne Rooney to his starting XI along with Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had completed his three-match ban.
Memphis was dropped to the bench following his clanger at Stoke on Boxing Day and Morgan Schneiderlin was recalled in what looked like a defensive United line-up.
With Diego Costa suspended following his mindless booking 48 hour previous, Hiddink had no choice but to deploy Eden Hazard in the lone striker role in the hope it would somehow spark him into life.
With neither side fielding a genuine No.9 in their ranks this clash was in serious danger of being double Dutch to most people.
But the first half started at breakneck speed with chances coming at both ends and United counting themselves unlucky not to strike first blood.
Juan Mata saw a blistering drive hit the bar within three minutes and Schneiderlin flashed a shot wide before Anthony Martial’s effort clipped the post and ran across the goalline inches away from Rooney.
The Blues could have gone ahead themselves, with the impressive Hazard pouncing on Daley Blind’s slip only to see Ashley Young’s desperate intervention avert the danger.
From the resulting corner De Gea produced a world class save to tip over John Terry’s close range effort.
But United were much the better team, with Van Gaal’s men showing much more urgency and drive with our without the ball.
Ashley Young and Martial were providing threat on the flanks while the likes of Mata and Rooney were also troubling the Blues defence in more central positions.
Courtois produced a flying save to keep out Rooney’s long range effort as United continued to dominate, but De Gea had to be equally impressive at the opposite end with a fine double save to deny Pedro and then Cesar Azpilicueta minutes after the break.
This game was on a knife edge and the goalkeeping masterclass continued when Martial crossed for Ander Herrera, but somehow Courtois kept the Spaniard’s effort out from point blank range.
Minutes later Matteo Darmian’s mistake allowed Pedro to send Matic charging clean through on goal, but with just De Gea to beat and Van Gaal holding his breath all the midfielder could do was blaze his shot high into the stand.
