Sunday Times
Didier Drogba's strike sends Chelsea top
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2
Jonathan Northcroft, football correspondent, at Old Trafford
Carlo Ancelotti, a stoic farmer’s son, says patience is his biggest virtue but like any countryman of Horace he knows all about carpe diem. Chelsea seized what could prove the defining day of the Premier League campaign to ambush Manchester United at Old Trafford, moving top of the table with five games remaining thanks to a victory won by grabbing a contest early. United pushed hard, ever harder, as the 90 minutes progressed but by the time their comeback gained the momentum of a goal there was too much ground to make up, thanks to Chelsea’s preceding burst of leg-power. United, in between Champions League games, looked tired. Chelsea, whose elimination from Europe may be a blessing, are favourites to go on from here towards the title and seem full of verve.
Nothing, Ancelotti stressed, was decided but Chelsea took a giant stride towards that prize and it now appears that physical condition will be vital in a race which, with five games remaining for the main contenders, is into its final lap. One of those is bounding along while two others drag battered and weary limbs around the track. Arsenal are working to their maximum just to hang on and Manchester United, said Sir Alex Ferguson, using a favourite word, are “leggy”.
For the fifth time this season United lost a Premier League match the weekend after Champions League duty. Ancelotti exploited brilliantly his opponents’ hangover from Tuesday’s defeat at Bayern Munich. The absence of Wayne Rooney, injured in Germany, was as a factor as predictable as Dimitar Berbatov’s failure to step into Rooney’s shoes but even more important was Chelsea’s greater pep. Ancelotti told his men to start at full tilt, guessing his opponents would be fatigued, and chose his personnel and formation with the focus on striking at United in their home.
Ferguson’s men were left wheezing as their foes ran them all over the pitch during the first quarter and Joe Cole, with a puckish finish, established Chelsea’s lead. Thereafter, they played fluently on the counterattack and, even in the second half, when Ferguson exhorted greater effort from his men, rarely looked likely to concede. Sub Federico Macheda did score a late — and perhaps illegal — goal but by then the chance of United effecting one of their famous comebacks was small. Didier Drogba, on the break, had put Chelsea two ahead though his goal — more offside than a Sachin Tendulkar cover drive — was even more contentious than Macheda’s.
Ferguson lambasted the officiating but Chelsea would have won even without the decisions that went their way. One of these was the failure of referee Mike Dean to give a penalty when Ji-Sung Park went over Yuri Zhirkov’s leg just inside the area in the 25th minute. But Chelsea could point to their own injustices. Macheda’s goal went in off his arm, Paul Scholes was allowed to get away with tackles when he got the man while barely in the same postcode as the ball, and a penalty claim was also refused by Dean that was even more plausible than Park’s. Nicolas Anelka, after muscling away Valencia, was poised to shoot when Gary Neville banged into his side and sent him sprawling. Dean must have thought it was a shoulder charge but the contact was hip-to-hip.
Dean was priced at an extraordinary 5-2 to point to the spot yesterday, having already given 16 penalties in the Premier League this season, nine more than the next most punitive referee. He seemed determined not to give anything and perhaps applied the law too loosely.
It was not Dean who got the biggest decision wrong, however, but one of his assistants. Ancelotti held Drogba in reserve and unleashed his top scorer with 21 minutes left, just when United’s efforts to get back on terms at 1-0 down were at their fiercest. He knew there would be even greater opportunities on the counter and Salomon Kalou, another substitute, rolled a pass behind United’s defence to find Drogba, who was playing in front of his new Ivory Coast manager, SvenGöran Eriksson. Drogba was a clear yard offside but Simon Beck, declined to raise his flag despite being in a perfect position. Drogba faked to shoot to Edwin Van der Sar’s right before driving a powerful finish to his left to put Chelsea 2-0 up with 11 minutes left.
Macheda’s goal came two minutes later. Nani tricked past Paulo Ferreira and spun a terrific cross into the near post area. Petr Cech palmed the ball and Macheda ushered it over the line with his left arm. The “Hand of Fed”, though the young Italian might argue the ball landed against his limb. United chased an equaliser to the extent they were left with a four-man forward line and midfield of Darron Gibson and Ryan Giggs for the last five minutes and they did have one chance for 2-2. On the stroke of 90 minutes, a Neville centre found Berbatov but the Bulgarian volleyed straight at Cech.
It was Berbatov’s moment to prove he can be United’s matchwinner in lieu of Rooney and he fluffed it. He had by no means a dreadful game but his lack of pace let John Terry play to his strength. There is a fine line between holding the ball and dwelling on it, which Berbatov often crosses. United’s attacks lacked zip, especially once Chelsea worked out Valencia was Ferguson’s only attacker with enough speed to get behind them, and crowded the Ecuadorian. Chelsea’s thrusts, especially early, were much sharper and Florent Malouda led them.
Cole’s opener came after Malouda got away from Valencia and Neville made the wrong decision by moving wide to address a potential Zhirkov overlap rather than confront Malouda’s run. Darren Fletcher was uncharacteristically slow in his tracking and also failed to stop Malouda, who drove to the touchline and crossed into the six-yard box, where Cole used his left heel to send the ball between his own legs and past Van der Sar. Park sliced over when teed up by Fletcher in the 47th minute and Berbatov, less languid in the second period, twice made good contact with headers but in positions where it was difficult to score.
The Premier League lead changed for the 20th time in 2009-10 and United have now lost seven times in the competition. No team, in a 38-game season, have ever won the title from there.
Manchester Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher (Gibson 86min), Scholes (Nani 72min), Giggs, Park (Macheda 71min), Berbatov
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Deco (Ballack 82min), Mikel, Lampard, J Cole (Kalou 73min), Anelka (Drogba 69min), Malouda
Star man: Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Yellow cards: Man Utd: Neville, Scholes, Fletcher Chelsea: Deco
Referee: M Dean
Attendance: 75,217
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Independent:
Drogba steals a march to give Chelsea the lead in title race
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2: European toils and questionable goal are costly for United
By Steve Tongue at Old Trafford
An enthralling Premier League campaign took another dramatic twist yesterday, not to anyone's ankle this time, but right at the top of the whirligig. Manchester United chose the wrong day to produce one of their worst hour's football of the season, much as Chelsea had done when sliding out of the Champions' League to Jose Mourinho's Internazionale.
Now, however, that loss looks a blessing in disguise. Carlo Ancelotti was able to enjoy a free week while United were exerting themselves against Bayern Munich, and will do so again during this week's second legs, concentrating exclusively on Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa. Ancelotti used his time well, planning an attacking approach and a high tempo from the start. His midfield trio spread the play wide to effective wingers in Joe Cole and Florent Malouda, well supported by the full-backs Paulo Ferreira and Yuri Zhirkov. Frank Lampard and Deco were excellent, and once Cole's audacious flick had secured the lead, Deco in particular used his experience to slow the game by simply keeping possession. His team were helped in that ambition by United's careless tendency to give the ball back to them.
After a first half in which one low drive by Patrice Evra, comfortably held, was the champions' only shot on target, it is reasonable to assume that Sir Alex Ferguson's half-time chat was lively. It still took another quarter of an hour for United to exert serious pressure, but Chelsea withstood it before breaking out to snatch a second goal. This being the Premier League, there was controversy about it, Didier Drogba standing a yard offside before striking his shot.
Each side was also denied a convincing penalty claim and Chelsea protested that Federico Macheda used his hand in scrambling a goal to fan the embers of United's dying hopes. It was significant, however, that they needed Macheda to take a hand – or a chest, whichever it was – in the absence of Wayne Rooney.
Dimitar Berbatov's rather less dynamic qualities were insufficient here and it may be that Macheda will have to start alongside him at Blackburn next Sunday in the hope that United can stay in contention until their talisman and leading goalscorer returns, possibly for the huge date with Manchester City on Saturday week. What is undeniable is that they have now lost seven times this season, a handicap that no club has ever overcome to win the Premier League.
If Drogba is the one serious contender to Rooney as player of the year, Chelsea can still manage without him. After the 7-1 romp against Aston Villa last weekend, Ancelotti kept an unchanged team, knowing that Drogba had not trained fully but could be called upon when required. Sticking to Nicolas Anelka in attack and Mourinho's old 4-3-3 formation also allowed Cole (pictured right) the sort of opportunity he is desperate to grasp as the World Cup looms. In front of Fabio Capello's assistant Franco Baldini, he seized it, not least with his intervention in the 20th minute.
Entitled to be satisfied with their efforts up to that point, Chelsea then received some tangible reward as Malouda broke down the left, away from Antonio Valencia and past Darren Fletcher to the byline. His cutback was the type to threaten danger and Cole took advantage with an improvised flick that suggested any crisis of confidence is over. It was only his second Chelsea goal in his last 45 games.
Petr Cech's easy catch from Evra's drive was the only save by either goalkeeper until that point and the only other incidents before half-time were yellow cards (for Paul Scholes and Gary Neville) and controversies in the penalty area. Mike Dean had awarded 16 penalties in 24 games before yesterday, by far the highest total of any Premier League referee; Blackburn's Martin Olsson having claimed that he used that knowledge in taking a dive against Burnley to win a decision.
South Korea's Park Ji-Sung is not cut from the same shabby cloth, but he too may have exaggerated his fall after Zhirkov caught his leg inside the area. Dean was unmoved and remained so after an even more blatant foul by Neville, charging Anelka in the chest and down to the ground.
Chastened or not by Ferguson's talking-to, United could still have fallen further behind two minutes into the second half. Cole's fine pass put in Ferreira, who could not decide whether to shoot or cross and produced a feeble combination of the two options.
At last, however, the home side began to press and then to threaten. Park was off balance as he shot into the Stretford End, Berbatov headed wide and then too high, and it was now Chelsea names – Deco's and Cole's – being noted by the referee.
Drogba and Macheda were among the clutch of substitutes introduced and each had a significant part to play. In the 78th minute Salomon Kalou, another replacement, played in Drogba, who deceived the referee's assistant with his run and then Edwin van der Sar with his shot. Two minutes later another pair of fresh legs, these belonging to United's Nani, sped down the left for a cross that Cech could only push into the body of Macheda, Chelsea appealing in vain that it was a hand that propelled the ball over the line.
A frantic finish was thus guaranteed but Berbatov's hooked shot at Cech was the nearest thing to one of United's famous late goals. Once again they had ended a Champions' League week in defeat and this may prove the most costly of all.
Attendance: 75,217
Referee: Mike Dean
Man of the match: Malouda
Match rating: 6/10
MAN FOR MAN MARKING...
MANCHESTER UNITED
Edwin van der Sar 6/10
Had little chance with either goal – Cole's backheel or Drogba's blast – and although he was not called upon to perform heroics the United goalkeeper always seemed in the greater danger.
Gary Neville 5/10
United's right flank had been given a severe examination by Bayen Munich's Franck Ribéry in midweek and received another stiff test yesterday as Malouda several times threatened to run amok. However, when he was able to venture forward Neville's crosses promised a reward that never came.
Rio Ferdinand 6/10
If there was relief that Drogba was only on the substitutes' bench, United's central defenders had little time to enjoy it as they were forced on to the back foot. But Terry's England partner managed to keep Anelka stifled in the central areas.
Nemanja Vidic 5/10
Has still not recovered his impregnable aura of last season. The centre-back never looked entirely at ease against the speed of Chelsea's attacks, or indeed their intensity in the first half, and questions must remain about his level of performance in the very biggest contests.
Patrice Evra 7/10
The United left-back's contest with the Blues' right flank was one of the most finely balanced on the pitch. His pace and eagerness to attack gave Ferreira some difficult moments, conversely the Chelsea man forged forward to fashion himself one of the best chances of the match.
Antonio Valencia 5/10
A huge disappointment for United fans must have been the apparent ease with which Zhirkov got the measure of the right-wing threat. Staunching the supply of tantalising crosses from United's right gave Chelsea a sense of safety rarely enjoyed at Old Trafford.
Darren Fletcher 6/10
After a very ordinary first half, the Scottish midfielder played further upfield and got in more of the tigerish tackles that his game is founded on. However, despite the extra energy expended, he was still unable to create real danger with the vision that has been a hallmark of his improved form.
Paul Scholes 5/10
By his very high standards the midfielder gave a very pale imitation of his best performances. Too many misplaced passes were symptomatic of this off day, as were wild tackles on Deco and Malouda which saw him booked. Later substituted for Nani.
Park Ji-sung 6/10
Although he ran with his customary enthusiasm, the South Korean caused little real peril to the Chelsea defence. He seemed adrift in no man's land starting in an advanced role just behind Berbatov, but had difficulty in imposing himself on the play. Replaced by Macheda.
Ryan Giggs 6/10
In common with two others of the famous generation of United youth players who have served the club so well, did not perform to his excellent best, unable to get a foothold in the play during the first half and drifted in and out of the match thereafter.
Dimitar Berbatov 5/10
In the absence of Wayne Rooney, the Bulgarian led the line with a typical languid, insouciant air, which was not what was required. Denied by Lampard when about to shoot, and with that his best chance was gone.
Substitutes
Federico Macheda on for Park (71 minutes) the big striker scrambled in United's goal but did little else to bring Sir Alex Ferguson comfort. Nani on for Scholes (71 minutes) but unable to find a penetrating run to trouble the visitors. Darron Gibson on for Fletcher (86 minutes).
CHELSEA
Petr Cech 6/10
Had little to do in the first half other than admire the control exerted by the Blues on an out-thought and out-fought United. In the second an ineffective flap at a cross from the left went unpunished, but gave the opposition hope. Another clearance was smuggled in by Macheda's arm for United's goal.
Paulo Ferreira 7/10
Started brightly with a run and cross and had a good chance in the second but shot wide. Defensively, one early Berbatov run at Chelsea's right flank suggested vulnerability, but thereafter controlled his flank well.
Alex 7/10
The unsung component of the Blues' rearguard had a quietly solid first half in which he was rarely called on, so firm was his side's control. In the second, when under greater threat, the centre-back was again an effective bulwark and hardly put a foot wrong.
John Terry 7/10
That blip in form now behind him, the club captain was indomitable. His only first-half misjudgement was to concede a foul on Berbatov in the final seconds for a free-kick which came to nothing. Late on, stood his ground as firmly as ever and marshalled a back four under increasing threat.
Yuri Zhirkov 7/10
Got away with a foul on Park on the edge of the penalty area, but apart from that blemish the left-back was never really troubled, kept the normally dangerous wing play of Valencia under a tight rein for 90 minutes and was lively enough to support the attack.
John Obi Mikel 7/10
The holding midfielder protected his back four diligently, urgently winning the ball back from the opposition's lacklustre midfield. Perhaps does not yet have the authority of a Claude Makelele in the role, but in this match did not disappoint and used the ball with good sense.
Deco 8/10
Together with Cole, the Portuguese midfielder was a constant irritant to the Reds defence, rarely misplaced a pass and had an eye for the penetrative ball that would unpick the United backline. They never got close to him, as evinced by Scholes' rash foul on him.
Frank Lampard 7/10
Did not play quite as far forward as usual, or make those trademark runs into the opposition penalty area, with only one notable shot late in the second half. But played his part in a midfield that was dominant in the first half, defiant in the second.
Joe Cole 7/10
Has not always had the confidence of his manager Carlo Ancelotti, but given the nod yesterday the England midfielder came up with a deft backheel for the important first goal. Often threatened danger when drifting to the right or playing just behind Anelka. Tired in the second half; replaced by Kalou.
Nicolas Anelka 7/10
Preferred to Drogba as leader of the Blues attack, the French striker worked hard for the team without finding a goal opportunity for himself. Replaced by Drogba, who, of course, soon scored Chelsea's second goal.
Florent Malouda 8/10
Always presented a problem to Neville and United's right flank with his searing pace and strong determination not to be knocked off the ball, as seen by his run and cross to set up Cole's opener.
Substitutes
Didier Drogba on for Anelka (69 minutes) and, watched by the new Ivory Coast manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, scored an emphatic, if offside, winner. Salomon Kalou on for Cole (72 minutes) as Chelsea tried to stem the Reds' recovery. Michael Ballack replaced Deco (80 minutes) as the Blues saw the match out.
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Observer:
Didier Drogba goal seals win over Manchester United as Chelsea go top
Manchester United 1 Macheda 81 Chelsea 2 Cole, J 20, Drogba 79
Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
In the end it was not even close. Federico Macheda's springtime speciality made the last 10 minutes interesting rather than tense, and it turned out he had handled the ball anyway. That made redundant all Manchester United's legitimate claims that 10 minutes earlier Didier Drogba had thumped home the winner from an offside position, and all that remained was for Chelsea to hold on to their lead. They did so with a brisk determination that suggested they will not be easily dislodged from the top of the table now they have their noses in front.
Perhaps a rider could be added to that statement. As long as Drogba is available Chelsea should be able to see out their advantage. Nicolas Anelka does not appear to be in the sort of form to win the next five matches on his own. Sir Alex Ferguson billed this match rather ambitiously as a World Cup final, when until Drogba arrived with the knockout blow it was actually more like a shadow-boxing version of a heavyweight title fight. United and Chelsea seem to need lead in their gloves when Wayne Rooney and Drogba are reduced to spectators, though at least Joe Cole remembered to pack a surprise punch, giving his side a deserved lead they never really looked like losing before the second-half goals brought predictable controversy,
"That's twice we've been beaten by refereeing decisions, it happened at Stamford Bridge as well," Ferguson said. "The linesman is right in front of Drogba and he gets it wrong. It was a poor, poor performance from the officials in a game of this magnitude. The quality of the officials has cost us, though I must admit we looked leggy in the first half and Chelsea were by far the better team. They have got to be favourites now, Chelsea are in the driving seat. We can win all our remaining five games and we still won't win the title if Chelsea win theirs."
If that was a last, slightly desperate attempt to increase the pressure on the London side, Carlo Ancelotti was having none of it. "We are not favourites," the Chelsea manager said. "We are top of the league but nothing is decided yet. There are still five matches to play and we have to stay focused."
A first half remarkable only for the meekness of United's approach suggested Chelsea ought to be able to hold their nerve, even if they are more thoroughly tested in away games to come at Liverpool and Spurs. Just about the only memorable moment was Cole's well-taken goal, the one that prompted Chelsea fans to chant with some justification that Old Trafford was surprisingly quiet. United's defence melted away alarmingly as Gary Neville and Darren Fletcher allowed Florent Malouda to reach the byline. When he pulled back a low cross there was only Patrice Evra guarding Cole in the middle, and though Cole had his back to goal, the Frenchman and Edwin van der Sar were confounded by a backheel flick that rolled gently across the line.
United could have few complaints about going behind. With Park Ji-sung oddly stationed in the centre of a three-man advanced midfield line, Dimitar Berbatov was short of support and apart from a couple of optimistic penalty shouts the home side rarely threatened. Berbatov failed to make a convincing case for himself, either as Rooney's deputy or a presence capable of leading the attack on his own. Too much of the game passed him by and too often he was easily knocked off the ball. Neither of those charges can normally be levelled at Rooney.
by Guardian Chalkboards Dimitar Berbatov struggled to get involved in the play as much as Wayne Rooney did in United's last home match against Liverpool There were ironic cheers from the home support when Mike Dean awarded Berbatov a free kick after being mown down by John Terry, though it would be over generous to say all the time the Bulgarian spent on the floor was through fouls the referee had not spotted.
Chelsea could have made the points safe at the start of the second half when Cole cleverly played Paulo Ferreira behind the United defence, only for the full-back to fail to supply anything like a striker's finish. United enjoyed a strong 20 minutes chasing an equaliser after that, the crowd roaring them on as of old, yet all they had to show for the pressure were a couple of headers from Berbatov that were not close enough to the target to trouble Petr Cech.
Chelsea opened out the game again by the simple expedient of bringing Drogba and Salomon Kalou on for the last 20 minutes, and though the former was clearly offside when the latter's reverse pass played him in, the flag stayed down and a trademark finish exploded past Van der Sar at his near post. Macheda bundled in a reply almost immediately after Cech had palmed out Nani's cross, though if the crowd expected a grandstand finish they were disappointed. Those days appear to have gone, at least until Rooney comes back.
Berbatov did force a save from Cech late in the game but the real story was of United being outplayed in other areas of the pitch. Even Rooney's return will not solve everything, and it will certainly not knock any years off the combined age of Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who were unable to generate any sort of dynamism against the supposedly geriatric Chelsea.
It was Ferguson who remarked last season that Chelsea are getting on a bit, yet United are hardly an advert for youthful vigour. The average age of their starting line-up, for a game they knew might decide the title, was 31. Small wonder Chelsea were able to hold on to their lead. Suddenly that looks like being the story of the rest of the season.
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Telegraph:
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2:
By Duncan White at Old Trafford
It is all very simple. Five games and five wins and Chelsea will be champions. With an impressive, aggressive performance in their rival’s own lair, they ripped the initiative from Manchester United and jumped to the top of the table. Now they just have to hold their nerve.
Carlo Ancelotti has forged success out of failure. Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League by Jose Mourinho’s Internazionale last month in a fitting defeat: the Portuguese’s achievements at Stamford Bridge have cast an imposing shadow over the work of his successors.
Ferguson fuming at match officials It is ironic then that by beating his former club, Mourinho may well have helped them free themselves of his claustrophobic legacy. By removing the distraction of the Champions League, Mourinho has helped Chelsea close on their first title since his departure.
The lack of midweek distraction was decisive. Thanks to his side no longer being involved in Europe, Ancelotti had a full week of training to prepare his team for this crucial game, a period of preparation that he felt gave his side the edge over United.
“I think we have had a very good reaction after the game against Inter,” Ancelotti said. “We could train in the week and that was an advantage for us. We had the possibility to play with a high tempo.”
That tempo was far too much for an ageing, jaded United XI, that had not got their midweek defeat in Munich out of their system. Not only was the defeat an emotional and physical drain, it cost them the fitness of Wayne Rooney.
Inspired by the outstanding Florent Malouda, a fresh Chelsea dominated from the off, pressing high and hard. With 20 minutes gone the France winger held off the attempted tackle of Antonio Valencia and sprinted towards the box. Darren Fletcher tracked as Gary Neville was distracted by Yuri Zhirkov’s overlapping run but Malouda beat the Scot to the by-line to cross. Ingeniously, Cole flicked the ball through the legs of his marker, Patrice Evra, and into the net.
You expected a response from United but they continued to struggle. The obvious problem was the absence of a 5”10 lump of squat Scouse gristle.
Ferguson believes his squad can cope without Rooney but there was no question his side struggled without their 34-goal striker - that’s hardly a revelation. Yet the poverty of their play, in the first half in particular, could not be blamed just on the absence of Rooney.
Their ability to recover from midweek European trials is hampered by the fact that so many of the players Ferguson is relying on are getting on: the average age of the United starting XI was over 31 and it showed.
Chelsea were simply sharper and quicker to the ball and United’s veterans had to resort to increasingly desperate measures to stop them. Paul Scholes had already committed two rash fouls when his wild lunge at Malouda - which fortunately missed the Frenchman - was followed by a yellow card.
Neville’s excessive foul on the same player just before the break met with the same punishment. Both players walked a fine line in the second half.
Mike Dean, the referee, called those right but had a decidedly poor game otherwise, missing two clear penalties and failing to spot that Chelsea’s second goal was offside and that United’s goal was handball.
Dean has a trigger finger with penalties, having given 16 in 24 games (more than any other Premier League referee) and he knew he would be under scrutiny.
Zhirkov’s foul on Park after Alex had slipped was perhaps tricky from his angle of vision but how he could not punish Neville for ludicrously taking out Nicolas Anelka with a full-body charge was bizarre. One each, at least.
Paulo Ferriera missed a great chance to put Chelsea 2-0 just two minutes into the second half, after Cole’s clever pass had sent him clear of Patrice Evra. The Portuguese full-back, perhaps panicked at being so far forward, neither crossed nor shot in the end.
From that moment on, though, United began to come back into it. Evra ambitiously hit a Valencia cross on the full but could not get it on target while Park also sent the ball into the stand after latching on to Darren Fletcher’s cute pass.
With United starting to build some useful pressure, Ancelotti played his trump card. He had decided not to start Drogba, wanting to use him as a late impact player. And some impact he did have. Put through by fellow substitute Salomon Kalou, he slammed the ball in at Edwin van der Sar’s near post to secure victory.
He was a good yard offside, an oversight by assistant Simon Beck that met with Ferguson’s understandable fury.
Still, the officials’ mistakes evened themselves out. With nine minutes left United’s own substitutes combined to pull one back.
Nani beat Ferreira on the left and crossed the ball into the six-yard box. Petr Cech sprang out and pushed the ball into Macheda’s chest. The Italian striker, whose cameos had such a dramatic effect on the title run in last season, eased the ball over the line with his arm. A furious John Terry appealed in vain.
Berbatov, who as deputy to Rooney was limited to a handful of headed half-chances, was given the opportunity to equalise in stoppage time but could not connect cleanly with Neville’s cross. With the final whistle, United ceded the initiative.
United must now hope for a Chelsea slip. The fixture list could put them in a rather uncomfortable position indeed. On May 1, Chelsea travel to Anfield in what looks the trickiest obstacle left for them to overcome.
United might have to become Liverpool fans for a day.
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Mail :
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2:
Didier Drogba's controversial winner gives Blues a title tonic
Rob Draper
With a degree of craft and the considerable help of some rank poor officiating, Chelsea manoeuvred themselves into pole position in this mesmerising race for the Premier League title with a deserved victory at Old Trafford which may have marked the end of Manchester United’s three-year dominance of the domestic game.This match was a pallid, turgid affair for long periods, lacking the intensity and quality that might be expected when teams of this stature clash in a game of such magnitude, and it was undoubtedly overshadowed by some appalling refereeing by Mike Dean and his team.
Yet, the twists and turns of the season offer a compelling drama and while United’s campaign is in danger of collapsing around them when Bayern Munich arrive at Old Trafford on Wednesday, Chelsea march on confident of capturing their first Premier League title since 2006.Troublesome trips lie ahead at Tottenham and Liverpool, but Carlo Ancelotti and his team deserve enormous credit.
They, too, stared into the abyss of a failed season but a fortnight ago. Dumped out of the Champions League by former manager Jose Mourinho and having dropped points at Blackburn, their response indicates they are worthy champions-elect, with 14 goals and three enormously important victories.
Ancelotti would almost certainly have paid with his job had Chelsea finished the season without a trophy but his team are now favourites for the Double, with an FA Cup semi-final on Saturday against Aston Villa.‘We had to have a reaction after the Inter and Blackburn games and we’ve come back very well,’ said Ancelotti. ‘But nothing is decided yet,’ he insisted, though he conceded this was ‘an important victory’.Ancelotti has fond memories of this stadium, having won a European Cup here with AC Milan, and he used his side’s relative freshness magnificently, his players never allowing United to settle in a first half dominated by Chelsea’s possession. ‘Our aim was to keep the intensity high from the start and we did that and kept control of the game in the first half,’ he added.‘It was important we didn’t have a game this week as it allowed us to train well. You lose a lot of energy from Champions League games.’He made the correct call in the biggest selection decision of the week. Nicolas Anelka started instead of Didier Drogba, who is nursing a groin injury.
Drogba was suitably ruthless when unleashed, scoring within 11 minutes of his entrance in the 68th, though he benefited from the ineptitude of assistant referee Simon Beck, who failed to spot he was offside.‘It was a very tough decision’ said Ancelotti of his selection dilemma. ‘For a player it is important to start. I understand that as I was a player. But for a coach it is less important.‘Didier couldn’t train properly this week and I wanted to save him for the end of the game. He scored a fantastic goal and helped the team.’In truth, neither team was at their best in the opening exchanges. Joe Cole’s delightful backheel to open the scoring on 21 minutes was a rare moment of quality provided when Florent Malouda advanced goalwards after a weak challenge from Antonio Valencia with Gary Neville failing to close down the space.
That aside, the first half was notable for a trio of potential penalties and United’s wretched display. They barely registered a shot, with only Patrice Evra’s strike forcing Petr Cech to make a save.They were unlucky not be awarded a penalty when Ji-Sung Park, playing off Dimitar Berbatov, danced into the box and was felled by Yury Zhirkov on 27 minutes.Within three minutes, Neville had evened out that injustice, bundling over Anelka in the penalty area with a shoulder charge of which Dixie Dean would have been proud. Less convincing was Berbatov’s tumble on 44 minutes when Lampard appeared to win the ball.
Neville and Paul Scholes had awful afternoons and even the evergreen Ryan Giggs showed his age. United were crying out for the wit of Wayne Rooney or the inspiration of a Carlos Tevez or a Cristiano Ronaldo.Drogba, on for Anelka, was clearly offside when fed by Saloman Kalou but smashed the ball inside Edwin Van der Sar’s near post.United rallied when Nani crossed and Cech could only deflect the ball into the chest of Federico Macheda, who pushed the ball across the line with his hand to ensure the incompetence of the officials evened itself out.Yet, no one could dispute the justice of the result.
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NOTW:
CARLO'S SPIRIT BURIES GHOST OF JOSE
Man United 1 Chelsea 2
By Neil Ashton
THE ghost of Jose Mourinho still haunts them, with pictures of past glories plastered all over Stamford Bridge.
In the tunnel, in the corridors and in the executive lounges, a blur of blue shirts pose alongside the Special One.
Images of Premier League titles cover the walls, with Mourinho and his team celebrating back-to-back triumphs in 2005 and 2006.
Inter's coach still calls it his team, reminding Chelsea's players of his impact during a triumphant return to London last month.
Three years without the Premier League would soon be four was the gist and yet, for once, the Special One called it wrong.
They are back on top of the pile and deservedly so, almost faultless during this edge-of-the-seat victory at Old Trafford.
Suddenly the manager is the king of cool, with Carlo Ancelotti wiping his brow and calling it on after that damaging defeat against Inter in the Champions League.
They are five games away from their first title under the Italian, 450 minutes and a little bit of injury time from the big prize.
Chelsea are that close, within touching distance of the Premier League after returning to the top of the table.
They are a team for all seasons, coping with injuries, a loss of form and the annual Chelsea crisis to emerge unscathed.
Hooted
The foundations were laid under Mourinho, blending pace and power with skill and a little skullduggery to break the cycle in English football.
Two league titles were earned and yet they have been yearning for another since 2006, ruffled by United's resurgence under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is theirs to lose now, advantage Chelsea after last weekend's stunning 7-1 victory over Aston Villa and yesterday's impressive performance.
A point would have been perfect for United, keeping Chelsea at arm's length ahead of Bayern Munich's arrival on Wednesday evening.
Instead they have fallen behind, beaten for the seventh time in the Premier League this season and clutching for straws.
There will be no favours from Chelsea from here on in, the scent of the title filling their nostrils after this show-stopping result.
Ferguson complained bitterly about the officials, pointing to the penalty shouts in the first half that were ignored (wrongly) by ref Mike Dean.
Then came Didier Drogba's goal, offside when Chelsea's substitute collected Salomon Kalou's pass but missed by assistant referee Simon Beck.
The old man was indignant, carrying out post-match interviews as Chelsea's players hooted and hollered title-winning songs from the visitors' dressing room.
This was Chelsea's day, from Joe Cole's brilliant backheel that put them in front to the fist-pumping celebrations on the sidelines.
Everyone was at it, with Ancelotti one step short of kissing the Old Trafford turf after this monumental victory. He was under pressure after defeat against Inter and yet he has turned the corner, emerging with credibility intact after they threatened to collapse.
Against their top-four rivals they cannot be faulted, with five successive Premier League victories against United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Rafa Benitez's team stand in their way of making it six before the season is out and yet Chelsea will take some stopping.
They benefited from a midweek break, fresh from last week's mauling of Villa and spending a week preparing for United.
Without Wayne Rooney, the hosts lacked inspiration, lost souls searching for someone to score their goals.
Federico Macheda got one, coming off the bench to score nine minutes from time but this time there was no fairytale ending.
His goals against Villa and Sunderland propelled United into pole position last season, playing a part in the team's third successive title.
The target this time was a record fourth, with Ferguson determined to power on beyond their joint record with Liverpool.
So much rested on it and yet Chelsea returned to London last night with their reputations enhanced, full throttle in the final phase of the season.
At times it was English football at its best, a demonstration from both teams of finesse and flair.
Frank Lampard's turn in the centre of the pitch, with the ball fizzing its way into the feet of Cole was top class.
So too was Dimitar Berbatov's three-point turn down the touchline, taking out half the Chelsea defence with a stunning dragback.
Or the pass from United midfielder Paul Scholes, a 40-yard looping strike towards Patrice Evra out on the left. Pure magic. It raised expectations, a potential classic between two teams with different football philosophies.
Florent Malouda was electrifying, justifying his selection with his raids down the left. He was mesmerising whenever he was in possession, almost rhythmic when he darted between defenders to set up Chelsea's opening goal.
Antonio Valencia and Darren Fletcher could not live with him, caught off balance as he made his way into the penalty area.
Cole read the pass beautifully, applying the sweetest of backheels to catch Edwin van der Sar off guard.
It was a rare strike, his second in the league this season, yet it was a beauty.
United responded, charging forward in search of an equaliser and the goal that would keep them at the top of the table.
They could easily have got it from the penalty spot, with Dean ignoring the legitimate appeals of United's players when Ji-Sung Park was tripped by Yuri Zhirkov.
Dean could barely keep pace, a controversial appointment after awarding 16 penalties in his last 24 league matches.
Break
He was unusually reticent and unwilling to make the call for either side yesterday.
Gary Neville escaped unpunished when he nudged Nicolas Anelka inside the area, bundling over the Chelsea striker with a clumsy challenge.
Then it was Lampard, tackling Berbatov from behind towards the final minutes of the first half as United flooded forward.
"He's got no right to be officiating a game of this magnitude," spluttered the old man and it was hard to disagree.
Dean got all three wrong, unforgivable in a match that will go an awfully long way towards deciding the title.
Still United pushed on after the break, taking chances as Ferguson's team tried to salavage a point.
Nani, a surprising omission from the starting line-up, was brought on with Macheda, moves designed to alter the course of the match.
Instead they fell further behind when Drogba, a brooding figure on the bench, put this match beyond United.
He spotted Kalou's pass, straying into an offside position before clipping the ball unpunished beyond the reach of Van der Sar.
It settled it, Chelsea surviving Macheda's awkward goal to record their 23rd victory in the league.
The players knew it was a big result, sprinting towards their pocket of travelling supporters.
They resisted the temptation to throw their shirts towards the fans, too high up for the hordes to reach.
Instead they puffed out their chests, patting Ancelotti on the back and ruffling his hair as they walked off.
More love-ins like this and it will be time for Mourinho to move over.
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Express:
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CHELSEA 2
By Mauro Galluzzo
DIDIER Drogba’s controversial winner allowed Chelsea to shrug Manchester United aside and put themselves back in pole position in the Premier League title race.
Sir Alex Ferguson and his team will feel hard done by as Drogba was clearly offside as he collected Salomon Kalou’s pass and drove home 12 minutes from time.
The significance of the error only became clear once Federico Macheda had pulled a goal back for the hosts to set up a pulsating finish.
But Ferguson would be aware that the first hour had been completely one-sided in Chelsea’s favour and that the visitors should have had a greater advantage than the one goal Joe Cole provided in the first half.
Without Wayne Rooney, there was no real bite in United’s attack.
And although the 34-goal striker is only out for a fortnight, by the time he returns his side’s dreams of glory might be over, considering Chelsea now have a two-point advantage and a superior goal difference.
Since his recovery from a long-term knee injury, Cole has struggled to get back into the swing of things.
Fabio Capello claimed he was not the same player when he left the midfielder out of his England squad to face Egypt last month, raising extreme doubt over Cole’s chances of making the World Cup.
Cole’s admission that contract talks had broken down was a statement in itself, given it is hard to imagine Carlo Ancelotti allowing a pivotal player to find himself in such a position so close to him being allowed to leave on a free transfer.
Old Trafford has been mentioned as a potential destination should Cole leave Stamford Bridge this summer, so it was an opportunity to impress Sir Alex Ferguson, not that the United chief would have found the 18th-minute opener even vaguely admirable.
Having put his side’s obvious failings in possession down to a one-off in Munich last week, Ferguson must have been worried to see the same fault reappearing quite so often, quite so soon.
There is no doubt the ankle injury Rooney suffered in Germany had a negative effect on United.
But the fault lay much deeper, their play too ponderous to have any impact. All across the midfield, United were wasteful in possession. And with Florent Malouda giving Gary Neville a right old runaround, Chelsea took complete command.
The disappointment for Ancelotti must have been that his team did not make the most of their possession.
Edwin van der Sar denied Cole on one occasion and Nicolas Anelka had a couple of shots blocked but clear-cut chances were rare.
Even Chelsea’s opening goal was not a golden opportunity in that sense.
Malouda was invited to run into the home box and although Darren Fletcher eventually reacted, the Chelsea midfielder had the strength to hold him off and cut the ball back to the near post, where Cole got in front of Patrice Evra and found the net with a neat back flick.
It took United a long time to respond. And when the rally eventually came, it took the form of a couple of debatable penalty appeals and referee Mike Dean was not impressed either when Yury Zhirkov chopped down Park Ji-sung and Dimitar Berbatov fell under Frank Lampard’s challenge.
Had Paulo Ferreira shown more conviction when he raced to meet Cole’s excellent through-ball at the start of the second half, the contest would have been over.
Instead, the full-back failed to find either the far corner, or Anelka, and United, who at least speeded up a little bit, remained alive.
The escape certainly seemed to galvanise the hosts, who for the first time made Chelsea’s defence creak.
Berbatov, the man of whom so much was expected in Rooney’s absence, was just off target with a couple of headers and, off balance, Park was unable to keep his shot on target after a forceful Fletcher run had carved Chelsea open.
The introduction of Drogba midway through the second half emphasised the Blues’ strength in depth compared to their hosts, who were forced to rely on the talents of teenager Macheda when Ferguson needed to reinvigorate his side.
Predictably, Drogba had an immediate impact, even if he was offside as he collected Kalou’s pass before drilling his shot past Van der Sar.
Down, and almost out, United responded instantly as Cech pushed Nani’s cross onto the on-rushing Macheda. The ball bounced slowly into the Chelsea goal to set up a dramatic ending.
But the Blues were worthy winners at the end. Behind glass, in the executive box where he watched from, Rooney could only wonder what might have been.
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Mirror:
Man United 1-2 Chelsea
By Simon Mullock
It really was the stuff of champions.
Whether Chelsea now go on to reclaim the Premier League title after three years of Manchester United dominance will of course be decided in the final five matches of a compelling campaign.
But what Carlo Ancelotti’s men did at Old Trafford yesterday was to prove that when it comes to going head-to-head with Sir Alex Ferguson’s team they are superior in every department.
It may prove to be a pivotal day, with Chelsea now two points clear at the top of the table and momentum on their side.
Yes, United were without their 34-goal talisman Wayne Rooney.
Yes, the Reds had been jaded by their Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich, while the Blues were able to prepare for the game that would shape their season.
And yes, when Didier Drogba smashed home what proved to be the winning goal in the 78th minute, he did so after drifting into a clearly offside position.
But Chelsea were worthy winners. The team that Sir Alex Ferguson once dismissed as a dad’s army were too strong in mind, body and spirit for the reigning champions.
Joe Cole – scorer of the first goal – looked back to his best, while Florent Malouda continued his impressive form during a first half totally dominated by the visitors.
And when United poured forward, driven on by pure pride and spirit after the break, John Terry and Alex were towers of strength at the heart of Ancelotti’s defence.
By contrast, it was Ferguson’s own 30-something trio of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville who looked to be closer to extinction than anyone wearing royal blue.
Ancelotti has now lost just one of six meetings with the United boss and it was clear to see from the opening exchanges that he had the edge again tactically.
Old Trafford normally throbs with atmosphere and anticipation on such days of destiny.
But it said much about Chelsea’s level of control that the home fans could barely raise a murmur.
By contract, the 3,000 travelling supporters were bouncing with joy in the 20th minute when Cole struck.
Malouda carved a swathe down the left flank, using Yuri Zhirkov’s overlap to dart inside Patrice Evra before sending over a low cross that was exquisitely flicked home by Cole at the near post.
Mike Dean is the penalty king of the Premier League, conjuring up 16 spot-kicks in 24 games.
United were furious when the referee refused to exercise his trigger finger when Ji-Sung Park went tumbling over Zhirkov’s outstretched leg.
The champions had a let-off when Gary Neville got away with a clear case of assault on Nicolas Anelka as the Chelsea striker shaped to shoot in the other penalty area.
United never go down without a fight, but there was an air of desperation about their second-half raids.
Park shot wide from 20 yards and Dimitar Berbatov twice went close with headers.
But Ancelotti sensed another goal was there for the scoring – and Drogba obliged.
He had strayed a yard offside when substitute Salomon Kalou spotted him ghosting behind Nemanja Vidic.
But assistant referee Simon Beck’s flag stayed down and Drogba turned to score his 31st goal of the season with a typically violent finish.
Sub Frederico Macheda refreshed home hopes when Nani’s cross was spilled by Cech and the young Italian bundled the ball in.
It was not enough. And no team have lost as many games as United have this season and still won the title.
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Star:
CHELSEA BEAT MAN U AND GO TOP
By Steve Millar
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2
WAYNE ROONEY watched from his executive box as the horror unfolded before him.
If only it was a case of break glass in case of emergency.
But not this time. Rooney and his 34-goal shooting boots were in cold storage high in the stands after the Manchester United striker’s ankle twist.
In his place stood £30.75million Dimitar Berbatov complete with his record of 12 goals in 36 appearances this season.
And the gap in scoring prowess was never more scarily highlighted.
Berbatov played too deep with only two fleeting headers and a half-hit volley to show for a day of utter frustration as Chelsea went two points clear of their bitter title rivals.
It was United’s seventh defeat this season and a gut-wrenching setback for boss Sir Alex Ferguson in his quest to be crowned champions for the fourth season running. Chelsea’s winner from substitute Didier Drogba – his first-ever league goal against United – was clearly a mile offside as for once a Beck was a villain at Old Trafford.
Linesman Simon Beck kept his flag pointing to the turf and Drogba struck the decisive blow with keeper Edwin van der Sar completely wrong-footed.
Chelsea were the better side overall, even though United came out scrapping in the second half after a lifeless first 45 minutes.
It was Chelsea’s first victory at the Theatre of Dreams since May 2005 when they went on to win their first title in 50 years. Talk about an omen.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are 8-13 favourites for the championship and even Ferguson has no complaints about those odds.
The Scot said: “It’s a disappointment. We looked leggy in the first half and Chelsea were the better team. “But in the second half we did well. We dominated but just didn’t get there.”
But it was a joyous afternoon for Ancelotti – who surprise, surprise didn’t see whether Drogba was offside for the winner which clinched a glorious double.
He said: “No, I didn’t see that situation. But we played very well in the first half and it was a very important victory for us. “To win here is not easy. We did a good job.
“It was very tough to leave out Didier but he understood because he didn’t train 100 per cent during the week. I preferred to put him on during the match because he was fresh and strong.
“I think not having Rooney and us not playing in the Champions League was an important factor. “We didn’t give United the opportunity to play how they wanted.”
And in Florent Malouda Chelsea had a player of awesome talent who bossed the game in magnificent style. The France winger was at the centre of everything which was great about the Blues.
Despite being fouled endlessly, especially by Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, he kept his cool and his class. His impact in the 20th minute couldn’t have been greater.
Malouda sprinted into the penalty area past Antonio Valencia and then Darren Fletcher and found Joe Cole. Patrice Evra was almost glued to him but somehow the England star found space to cleverly back-flick into the bottom corner.
There was no recovering from the killer Drogba blow, though.
Fellow sub Salomon Kalou slotted into his path and the flag stayed down allowing the Ivory Coast hitman to carry on and wallop past Van der Sar in the 79th minute.
Two minutes later, United were thrown a lifeline when sub Nani worked his way down the left and crossed.
Keeper Petr Cech flapped the ball out and it hit sub Kiko Macheda in the belly before rolling down his arm and into the net – an offence hotly denied by the Italian striker.
Macheda said: “I don’t know whether it was handball.
“It was a goal but Drogba’s goal was two metres offside. How the linesman didn’t see it I don’t know.”
The arguments will rage forever.
