Man Utd 1-1

Guardian:

Chelsea’s Diego Costa strikes at the last to deny Manchester United

Chelsea 1 - 1 Man Utd

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

This should have been the afternoon Manchester United breathed new life into their pursuit of the top four. Stamford Bridge may not be as impregnable as it once was, but victory would have edged the visitors within four points of the bottleneck beneath Leicester City, offering Louis van Gaal some respite amid all that familiar discord and doubt. He would not admit it, but to inflict defeat on a team who had started the campaign under José Mourinho, a friend who apparently now covets his job, might have provided added satisfaction.

Instead, as the Dutchman berated the fourth official in the mouth of the tunnel at the end, then echoed his complaints through his post-match quotes at the referee’s eagerness to blow his whistle and choke a United counterattack at the end of each half, it was hard to escape an underlying sense of deflation.

As bright as United had been at times, at the start of the second period in particular, when a goal of real pedigree had eventually forced them ahead, they were also damagingly wasteful. Aside from profligacy, the concession to Diego Costa in added time was born of the substitute Memphis Depay’s weak surrender of possession at the other end of the pitch. Just as at Newcastle United last month, points had been frittered away. “To have conceded so late makes it feel like a defeat,” said Jesse Lingard.

This game should have been theirs, for all that Chelsea summoned a response in the final quarter in pursuit of an equaliser. David de Gea had done well to deny Branislav Ivanovic on the volley, then turn aside Cesc Fàbregas’s crunched shot towards the near post. When Costa rose to nod over as the fourth official’s board was raised, it felt as if the hosts’ opportunities had been and gone.

Instead, Depay carelessly handed the home side another opportunity to spring upfield, the forward perhaps undecided whether to make for the corner and waste time or set up his fellow substitute Morgan Schneiderlin with a potential sight of goal. Chelsea regained the ball and, within seconds, Fàbregas was clipping a pass through the clutter of bodies on the edge of the United penalty area with panic having set in.

The visitors had been unnerved by John Terry’s presence as a makeshift forward, Daley Blind unsure just who he should be picking up only to slip as he belatedly broke forward, thereby clearing a pathway through which Fàbregas’s delivery duly squeezed. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson had played Costa onside and slid in desperately to try and intercept, only for his tackle to take the ball away from an on-rushing De Gea and neatly into the striker’s path.

Costa collected and converted a seventh goal in nine appearances and the champions had extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches. They are also now on 30 points, 10 away from the traditional marker to avoid relegation. Their own frustration was born of De Gea’s fine save to thwart Costa in what time still remained and, more worryingly, a potentially serious knee injury sustained by Kurt Zouma that will be scanned on Monday.

Yet it was United who felt damaged. This had been one of their better displays, a performance to maintain the promise of those wins over Derby County and Stoke City even as all the uncertainty swirls over the manager’s long-term future at the club.

Thibaut Courtois had denied Anthony Martial, thrillingly, and Wayne Rooney, then Lingard at full stretch just as the visitors’ ascendancy was growing before the hour-mark.

Unperturbed, Michael Carrick, Martial and the excellent Juan Mata pinged their passes once again to liberate Borthwick-Jackson from left-back. His centre was touched on by Rooney with the ball falling to Lingard, 12 yards out and with the 23-year-old’s back to goal. There was a touch, a spin and a fine rising shot on the turn which careered into the top corner before César Azpilicueta could summon a block.

Chelsea have found themselves in arrears too often on home territory, and a fifth defeat here loomed large. Their own attacking play had been generated in fits and starts, a flurry midway through the opening period when Costa and Oscar had found their range, and a wild penalty appeal in first-half stoppage time as John Terry’s shot struck Blind on the left elbow as he sprung out to intercept.

Zouma’s absence had disrupted their approach, the Frenchman having leapt to hack a loose ball upfield only for his right leg to buckle grotesquely on landing. He was taken off on a stretcher, distraught and clearly in agony. “It’s very bad when you land with a hyper-extension of your leg, very bad,” said Guus Hiddink before drumming his finger on the wooden desk. “Touch wood [it will not be the end of Zouma’s season] but, tomorrow, we’ll know more.”

They had still been reorganising when Lingard forced the visitors ahead, with Terry then pushed forward to bolster the attack with the game creeping away from Chelsea’s reach. Costa’s finish earned them a point, though those already faint hopes of making Europe through their league position are fading with each drawn match.

“We are unbeaten [since Mourinho’s departure in December] but, if you want to get into fourth place, you have to make victories,” added Hiddink. “We have had too many draws to get to fourth place. So it’s difficult.”

That sounded like an understatement given United are six points off fourth place and still feel like outsiders in the pursuit of Champions League qualification.

Man of the match David de Gea (Manchester United)


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Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 1: Diego Costa keeps his cool to turn heat on Louis van Gaal with late equaliser

 Diego Costa scored a stoppage-time equaliser before Louis van Gaal loses temper with an official

Jason Burt

The striker with a bit of devilment did for the Red Devils. A draw at Stamford Bridge and a vibrant attacking performance was a huge positive for Manchester United under normal circumstances.
But these are not normal circumstances for them or for manager Louis van Gaal who betrayed his frustration at the end by berating fourth official Craig Pawson for the timing of the final whistle just as, six minutes into added time, time added for an apparently serious leg injury suffered by Kurt Zouma, his team countered in search of a desperately-needed victory that felt so close before it was taken away.

They thought they had it. They thought they had done enough. They thought David De Gea’s outstanding goalkeeping – with one emphatically world-class save to beat away a fierce Branislav Ivanovic volley – had repelled Chelsea and that they would be closing the gap on fourth-placed Manches­ter City to just four points.

Instead it stands at six. Not insurmountable but the margin for error is now so tight that even a result like this is damaging for Van Gaal who knows – despite his angry rebukes – that the spectre of Jose Mourinho is looming large. Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes is making sure of that. Making sure that the United hierarchy know his man is ready and available to be considered should a switch be made. The pressure is on.

It would appear impossible for Van Gaal to survive into the final year of his contract as United manager if he does not secure Champions League football. With the top four playing each other next Sunday, a day after United are away to Sun derland, and with Van Gaal still having to face that quartet, then the crunch is approaching fast.

There is no margin to slip for United just as Daley Blind slipped here allowing Costa to run onto Cesc Fabregas’s clever stabbed pass and score the equalizing goal. If Blind was unfortunate there then he was perhaps lucky not to concede a first-half penalty when John Terry’s shot hit his arms.
Van Gaal admitted taht the “title gap is growing and growing” but this is not about winning the title. He needs that top four. That has to be the prize.

It has gone for Chelsea, the champions, with interim manager Guus Hiddink effectively admitting that afterwards. That may also come as a relief, of sorts, as Chelsea will surely now start to turn more towards the cup competitions with the FA Cup and, yes, the Champions League still winnable for them. They are only seven points clear of relegation but will not go down.
There will be claims that Hiddink’s second spell at Chelsea is, after six draws in eight league matches, lacking traction but they would have certainly lost this match not so long ago. Instead this Chelsea are now, again, fighting to the end.

None more so than Costa. The striker carried that fight but the menace he showed was channeled properly. There were no distracting rows just a constant stream of aggressive intent that earned a hug and an exchange of words from De Gea once this encounter was over. And, at the end, Costa’s name rang out around the stadium; his status re-confirmed.

The focus was on Terry also, of course, with this being the Chelsea captain’s first home game since he announced he did not expect a new contract to be offered to him by the club and that – as things stand – he will be leaving at the end of this campaign. The fans reacted. Terry knew they would and chose his words carefully when interviewed post-match, also. Maybe Zouma’s injury – if it is a bad as feared – might also have an impact on Chelsea’s decision on Terry? Roman Abramovich was here, he heard the songs, he saw how Terry played and he knows this could develop into awkward situation.
Almost as awkward as this fixture being relegated to 13th place hosting fifth when, for so long, it was associated with title-defining games, games that showed how the shift in power switched between these two clubs over the past decade or so before Manchester City entered that conversation.

There are a few more voices involved this season – with, gloriously, Leicester City plus Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal hoping to last the pace – and the bottom line for both these clubs is that they need to shape up fast; they need to work out exactly what they want to do and where they want to be next season. And that starts with a decision over who manages them.

United had dominated with Anthony Martial, again impressive, cutting inside and forcing a superb one-handed save from Thibaut Courtois with a drive destined for the top corner before De Gea then acrobatically held onto Nemanja Matic’s header before Costa dragged a shot across goal and Oscar fired over. But it was tight. It felt like one goal would be enough and United drew two more fine saves from Courtois – who denied Rooney and Lingard before, with England manager Roy Hodgson watching, the latter scored.

Zouma’s injury, hyper-extending his leg as he landed, appeared to affect Chelsea’s players and when play resumed they were caught out. United worked their way forward with the ball sent wide by Martial to Cameron Borthwick-Jackson whose cross – and he delivers a very dangerous cross - from the left was cushioned by Rooney to Lingard who swiveled sharply to send an athletic right-foot shot beyond Courtois and high into the net. It was a “beautiful” goal, Hiddink conceded

Then came the Chelsea onslaught. De Gea denied Ivanovic, Fabregas and Costa, with a strong one-handed save before Borthwick-Jackson erred – playing Costa onside – and as Blind slipped the chance opened up. Borthwick-Jackson slid in but it only helped Costa round De Gea and stroke the ball home.
To compound United’s frustration the goal had resulted from substitute Memphis Depay losing the ball – rather than any mistake by the officials - as they attacked with four players against two defenders. Chelsea deserved their draw. But Van Gaal had victory in his grasp and needed to win.


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Independent:

Diego Costa pounces in added time to peg back Red Devils

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 1: Lingard’s class rams home the extent of giants’ descent

Jack Pitt-Brooke

There was a time, not too long ago, when this was the best fixture in England, between the two best teams. Not now. Chelsea and Manchester United drew 1-1 in a game which had only one real moment of quality, in Jesse Lingard’s improvised opener, but said a lot about why these two teams are underperforming so badly.

Chelsea were far happier with the result, having offered little before Diego Costa’s stoppage time equaliser. This point moves them one ahead of West Bromwich Albion in the table. United, who were the better team, are now six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, rather than four.

But this is the most open title race for a generation and neither of these sides, with nine out of the last 11 titles between them, is anywhere near the running. Neither of these managers is likely to be in charge of their sides next season. These are two clubs in need of new direction, of a new start, if they are going to push themselves back towards the top of the game in England, never mind Europe.

Both of these clubs would love to appoint Pep Guardiola as manager but he is going to Manchester City instead. The closest thing to him is Jose Mourinho, who won the title with Chelsea last year before leaving them in tatters less than two months ago. United are now making plans to appoint him in the summer, thinking that the trophies he wins justify the inevitable collateral damage.

That is not what United thought in 2013, but this game was more evidence of why they are changing their minds. The Louis van Gaal era is drifting towards its meek ending, even though Van Gaal himself bristled in the post-match press conference when asked about the club’s move to replace him. But unless United can find another level to their play, more intensity in possession, and fewer mistakes at the back, they are looking at the prospect of another season of Europa League football. Chelsea are unlikely even to qualify for that.

At the start of this decade, and the end of the last one, Chelsea and United were regulars in the semi-finals of the Champions League and often in the final itself. Next year’s competition, with the lure of a final in Cardiff, will probably take place without either of them.

United, it must be said, were the better side for most of the match. They started the game with complete control of possession, even if, as is often the case, they struggled to turn that into chances.

Michael Carrick ran the game from the base of midfield, while Anthony Martial cut in from the left with real menace. He forced Thibaut Courtois into the first of the game’s many good saves, with a right-footed shot towards the far top corner of the net.

But United needed to speed up after half-time and they did, starting to make chances. Wayne Rooney induced another save from Courtois with a shot from the edge of the box, as did Lingard four minutes after.

Lingard has been one of the most positive things to happen to United this season and he put them ahead with a goal that was the only moment of real quality in the match. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, who also impressed, charged down the left-wing, receiving a pass from Juan Mata and hitting a good cross into the box. Rooney touched the ball to Lingard, who had his back to goal. With his first touch he controlled the ball, before spinning leftwards and striking it with his right foot, into the ceiling of the net. A brilliant idea, perfectly executed. Even the Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink, said it was “a beautiful goal”.

Lingard and Borthwick-Jackson were, along with David De Gea, United’s best players and it is to Van Gaal’s credit that he continues to pick the youngsters, despite the poor results. It is unlikely that Mourinho would give them as many chances, as United must know.

Chelsea, in contrast, looked like a team in need of some youthful exuberance. It took them nearly 20 minutes to mount a serious attack, having started the game slowly and ponderously.

Playing both Nemanja Matic and Jon Obi Mikel naturally slows things down, and it was Matic himself who sparked Chelsea’s best moments of the first half, charging forward, and heading a Willian corner just wide.

There was an improvement just before the break, and Oscar might have scored from close range, before a plausible appeal for a penalty when John Terry’s shot hit Daley Blind’s arm. But Chelsea started the second half just as slowly, again on the back foot. Kurt Zouma was taken off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, which meant a lengthy stoppage and the introduction of Gary Cahill.

Only in the final 20 minutes did Chelsea find the right intensity, having introduced Eden Hazard and Pedro from the bench. De Gea made a quick reaction save from Branislav Ivanovic’s left-footed volley, and then another one at his near post from Cesc Fabregas.

United ought to have seen the game out and they did make it into added time before they dropped their guard. When Fabregas played a pass through to Costa there was far too much space between Daley Blind and Chris Smalling, and when Blind slipped Costa was through.

He took the ball past Matteo Darmian and finished into the bottom corner. In the sixth and final minute of added time Costa broke through again, only to be denied by De Gea.

Three points would have been very flattering to Chelsea after a performance so lacking in tempo and control. They can take credit from the way they fought back in the final spell of the game, but this was not a performance to match Chelsea’s resources and ambitions. But neither was it from United, either.

Both teams are drifting in 2016, and it shows.


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Mail:

Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United: Diego Costa nets late equaliser after stunning Jesse Lingard strike looked to have sealed victory

By MARTIN SAMUEL FOR THE DAILY MAIL

These are worrying times for Manchester United. They did very well here, for long spells, showed considerable ambition for the away team, took a single goal lead into second-half injury time. And drew.

The gap between Louis Van Gaal’s team and the Champions League places is now six points – seven if one factors in inferior goal difference – a significant margin to make up, particularly when the team in fourth place is Manchester City. Chelsea know how hard it is to make progress at this stage in the season. The club hasn’t lost under Guus Hiddick but still lie 13th. Draws are no help as the weeks slip away – and United do not look capable of the lengthy unbeaten run that is required.

Van Gaal was talking sparkling football before this match, but it is all relative. United enjoyed back to back wins, but one was against Derby County of the Championship, another at home to a Stoke team that has slumped dramatically since losing the Capital One Cup semi-final on penalties. Visits to Stamford Bridge are the occasions on which the elite are judged. Chelsea may have played nothing like a Champions League team this season, but they have stellar personnel and an upcoming date with Paris St Germain. A win here would have been a statement.

And Manchester United looked like getting it, as the game ticked into injury time. They had taken a brilliant goal through Jesse Lingard and kept Chelsea at bay, despite one of those hard-running performances from Diego Costa that rolled back the years. Well, one year anyway. And then they dozed off and gave it all up. That’s what it is like at the top. Tough.

There were six minutes of injury time remaining, but Manchester United should have been thinking only of closing out the match. It was substitute Memphis Depay who committed cardinal sin number one, losing possession at a crucial moment, handing the counter-attacking advantage to Chelsea. Cardinal sin number two, sadly, came from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson who dozily stayed a yard too deep, playing Costa onside in a dangerous position.

Typically, Cesc Fabregas found him there – a lovely eye of the needle pass that left Costa on goal, Borthwick-Jackson trying and failing to correct his mistake, and David De Gea for once stranded in Manchester Unitred’s goal. Costa scored, Chelsea saw out the game. It makes little difference to them – their Premier League season is already a bust – but it was a colossal blow for United. Van Gaal felt he was hard done by at Stamford Bridge last season and no doubt doubly so after this.

Yet the draw seemed a fair result to most. Manchester United had the best of the first 20 minutes of both halves, Chelsea finished them stronger. Manchester United had several good chances, so did Chelsea. Thibaut Courtois made some excellent saves, so did De Gea. Chelsea had a fair penalty shout rejected. Chelsea lost a key player to what appears a very serious injury. Manchester United made more of the running than away teams often do at Stamford Bridge. So, fair exchange, no robbery.

It was a pity for Borthwick-Jackson and, in a way, for Van Gaal, too. If this is to be his last season as Manchester United manager, the defender is one of the precious gifts he will leave behind. Jesse Lingard is another. The two youngsters combined for the goal that looked to have won the game. It was always Van Gaal’s promise that he would bring through youth players and he has been as good as his word. Yes, to some extent, by luck as much as judgement. Had Luke Shaw not suffered serious injury, it is hard to imagine Borthwick-Jackson getting sustained opportunity. Even so, it happened, and Van Gaal persevered. He has integrated Lingard into his forward line ahead of Depay, given Borthwick-Jackson the nod when other, more expensive, alternatives were available.

And on Sunday he was rewarded. The goal came in the 61st minute. Juan Mata fed Borthwick-Jackson on the left overlap, his cross was perfectly struck for Wayne Rooney to lay back and there was Lingard to plant it into the top corner of the net. He made it look easy, but it wasn’t. He had his back to goal but twisted and struck it on the turn, eluding Cesar Azpilicueta in the process. Yet, as has happened so often this season, United failed to take advantage.

Chelsea were doubly damaged in that moment, having already been hurt by a horrid injury that left central defender Kurt Zouma stricken just minutes before the goal. He jumped to make an unusual, volleyed clearance and landed on his right leg, his full body weight passing through his knee, which buckled backwards in a sickening fashion. Zouma was screaming, his team-mates nearby looked ashen. Gary Cahill is no bad replacement but almost his first act was to assume shape for the restart. Chelsea were behind. Yet from this crisis, they were the ones who finished stronger.

MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

CHELSEA XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois 8; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 7 (Cahill 59), Terry 7, Azpilicueta 6.5; Obi Mikel 6.5, Matic 6 (Pedro 67); Willian 7.5, Fabregas 7.5, Oscar 6 (Hazard 54); Costa 7.5
Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Traore, Loftus-Cheek
Scorer: Costa 91

MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7.5; Darmian 6.5, Smalling 7.5, Blind 7, Borthwick-Jackson 6.5; Fellaini 7 (Schneiderlin 79), Carrick 7; Lingard 7.5 (Memphis 86), Mata 6.5 (Herrera 95), Martial 7; Rooney 6.5
Subs not used: Romero, McNair, Varela, Pereira
Scorer: Lingard 61
Booked: Lingard, Smalling

Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 41,434
Man of the match: Thibaut Courtois

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Mirror:

Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United: Diego Costa snatches a point for under-par Blues - 5 things we learned

BY JOHN CROSS

Costa rescued a point and continued Chelsea's unbeaten record under Guus Hiddink after Jesse Lingard's stunning opener

Diego Costa struck in injury-time to dent Manchester United’ s top four hopes and grab Chelsea a point at Stamford Bridge.

United looked set to keep themselves in touch with the Premier League top four after Jesse Lingard’s goal just after the hour mark.

That would have made it back-to-back wins for Louis van Gaal’s men and would have left United four points behind rivals Manchester City.

However, as the game ticked towards the 91st minute, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was caught ball watching, leaving Diego Costa onside, and the Spanish international turned home.


Here’s five things we learned.


1. Martial's influence grows by the week

He really looks a proper talent.

Even while United have been toiling and labouring in recent weeks, Martial has been excellent.

The way he drifts in from the left catches the eye, he’s a constant threat and he looks a fantastic prospect.

Manchester United paid £36m - potentially rising to £57m - and that sort of fee is generally reserved for proven talent.

They paid through the nose for potential and Martial has clearly got bags of it.


2. Cahill has chance to regain his place

It is always horrible and sickening to see a player suffer a nasty injury. Kurt Zouma’s injury looked horrific as he fell awkwardly and was stretched off.

The concern among the other Chelsea players was there for all to see and the home fans clapped him off. They could see the gravity of the injury.

Gary Cahill came on and may now get the run of games he so desperately needs and craves to clinch his place in the England line-up.

Heartbreaking for Zouma who was doing so well since coming in, but a way back for Cahill.


3. Lingard has an outside chance for the Euros

Roy Hodgson was at Stamford Bridge to watch what has traditionally been a top of the table clash.

It’s got a different context these days with Chelsea labouring in the bottom half of the table and Manchester United’s main target is simply top four.

But one player to surely have caught Hodgson’s eye must have been Jesse Lingard.

Lingard has scored three important goals recently, against Newcastle, Stoke and now at Stamford Bridge.

His goal at Chelsea was a peach. He controlled the ball, span and fired it into the top corner.

Hodgson got some stick for calling up Lingard a few months ago. If Lingard keeps playing and progressing then no-one will question his next call-up. He might even be in with a chance of the Euros.


4. What is and isn't handball?

It’s become such a grey area that no-one is quite sure what constitutes handball anymore, not least the referees.

The easiest definition is an unnatural movement of the hand and, to my mind, that’s what Daley Blind did to block John Terry’s shot in first half injury time.

I thought it was a penalty. Others disagreed. But then again, no-one is quite sure anymore.


5. Chelsea's top six hopes have gone

It was always going to be a tall order, but Chelsea’s hopes of getting a top six place - let alone top four - have surely gone now.

They are not playing well and there’s too much traffic to get through and too many points to make up to get a European place.

Chelsea looked flat, lacking in star quality and they have yet to regain any sort of momentum needed to climb up the table.

They must now rely on the FA Cup or Champions League as a passport into Europe. But playing this, both those routes look unlikely.


Player ratings - By Dave Kidd

Chelsea

Courtois 8 - Three terrific saves and little blame for the goal.

Ivanovic 6 - Given a rough ride by Martial but held up well and almost scored.

Zouma 7 - Basic but effective defending before his horrible injury.

Terry 7 - Rolled his socks up, puffed his chest out and led well.

Azpilicueta 5 - Not at his best defensively or going forward.

Mikel 5 - Won a few meaty tackles but bang average on the ball.

Matic 6 - Quietly effective in screening role but sacrificed when United went ahead.

Wlllian 7 - At the centre of most of Chelsea's best attacking work.

Fabregas 6 - Very poor first half, very decent second half.

Oscar 6 - Worked hard and has added a crunching tackle to his game.

Costa 7 - Had his usual nuisance value and sniffed out late leveller.

Subs: Hazard (for Oscar, 54 min, 5), Cahill (for Zouma, 58 mijn, 5), Pedro (for Matic, 67 min, 5)


Manchester United

De Gea MOTM 8 - Three world-class second-half saves.

Darmian 7 - Galloped forward well and defensively sound

Smalling 6 - Booked. Grew into game after some dodgy early distribution.

Blind 6 - Booked. Cultured on the ball but slip led to equaliser.

Borthwick-Jackson 7 - Coped pretty with Willian, bombs forward and crosses well.

Carrick 7 - Did his Carrick thing –all interceptions and angled passes.

Fellaini 7 - Shackled Fabregas and enjoyed the physical battle.

Lingard 7 - Booked. A terrific finish – the winger's second in as many games.

Mata 7 - Elusive in the No 10 role, he's still loved at the Bridge.

Martial 6 - Forced a great early save, though not at his most effective.

Rooney 6 - Some decent link-up play but more perspiration than inspiration.

Subs: Schneiderlin (for Fellaini, 79 min, 6), Memphis (for Lingard, 86 min, 4), Herrera (for Mata, 90 mins, 5)


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Express:

Chelsea 1 - Manchester United 1: Costa comes to Blues aid as Van Gaal's men suffer late on

HE CAME close, Louis Van Gaal. Very close to going into the old den of the man who is tormenting him and making a real statement.

By TONY BANKS

But close is not good enough right now for the Manchester United manager, and Diego Costa's injury time goal at Stamford Bridge last night was a dagger through the Dutchman's heart.

It may possibly even have been a mortal blow to Van Gaal's hopes of staying in the job at the end of this season and not relinquishing it to Jose Mourinho. The man supposedly lined up to succeed him, and whose realm, whose kingdom, the Bridge used to be.

This morning, United stand six points off fourth place, and a full dozen behind Premier League leaders Leicester, with 13 games to go.

Van Gaal's team played well at times yesterday afternoon in SW6, taking a late lead through Jesse Lingard's goal. But they did not play well enough, and at the end few could deny that Chelsea deserved their late, late equaliser. That Diego dagger.

Chelsea's hopes of league success have long gone.

Had they lost this, though, their chances of making even the top six would have been significantly reduced. As it was, Guus Hiddink remains unbeaten as interim manager, and the faint hope still lingers.

But that goal, coming in the 91st minute, which came when Cesc Fabregas threaded a pass through to Costa, played onside by Cameron Borthwick Jackson, was a killer for his Dutch compatriot. Costa then evaded the youngster's tackle and went round the excellent David De Gea to score.

It was harsh on De Gea, who had pulled off half a dozen brilliant saves, and harsh on Borthwick- Jackson, the youngster Van Gaal has championed, and who had set up their goal. But those small margins are not going United's way at the moment.

During the week Van Gaal had dismissed as "rubbish" rumours that Mourinho, sacked by Chelsea before Christmas, was closing in on his job. It would been sweet for him to answer that threat with three points yesterday. But the truth was, that against this moderate Chelsea side, United were once again not good enough.

For the first home game since John Terry's announcement that he was going at the end of the season with no new contract offered, there was little fanfare. One or two banners, a few chants. Not quite the fanatical backing he might have wanted.

In any case, the Chelsea captain had other things on his mind early on, as United started well. It took a fine save from Thibaut Courtois to foil Anthony Martial but then De Gea saved well from Nemanja Matic as Chelsea came back into it.

Terry claimed a penalty when his shot struck Danny Blind, but it would have been harsh. But Chelsea then lost Kurt Zouma, who landed horribly after volleying the ball and looked to have damaged knee ligaments, which will be a blow to Hiddink if he is ruled out for a lengthy period.

Ironically, though, for Van Gaal, it was another youngster he has promoted who provided the breakthrough.

Lingard first saw a drive well saved by Courtois but then he fastened onto Borthwick-Jackson's low cross, span, and hooked his shot past the Chelsea goalkeeper.

Chelsea roared back but found De Gea in immovable form.

First he quite brilliantly turned Branislav Ivanovic's volley over the bar, and then reacted well to keep out Cesc Fabregas's rising shot.

As Costa nodded over from close in it looked like Chelsea's chance had gone. But then up popped Fabregas, United fell asleep again - and Costa struck.

He could even have won it right near the end but once again De Gea stopped him at the foot of a post. Had it not been for his excellent goalkeeper, this could have been even worse for Van Gaal.

At the end Terry saluted the Matthew Harding end and even threw his shin pads into the crowd. That farewell is going to be long and involved, and may even not happen.

Van Gaal may well be on the road to his own farewell at the end of the season right now. And the ghost of Mourinho - whose teams, remember, were specialists at the late strike - still haunts him.


Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 7; Ivanovic 7, Zouma 7 (Cahill 58 6), Terry 7, Azpilicueta 6; Mikel 7, Matic 7 (Pedro 67 6); Willian 6, Fabregas 7, Oscar 7 (Hazard 54 6); Costa 7. Goal: Costa 91. NEXT UP: Newcastle (h), Sat PL.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 8; Darmian 7, Smalling 7, Blind 6, Borthwick-Jackson 6; Carrick 7, Fellaini 7 (Schneiderlin 78 6); Lingard 7 (Depay 85 6), Mata 7 (Perreira 94 6), Martial 7; Rooney 7. Booked: Blind, Smalling, Lingard. Goal: Lingard 61. NEXT UP: Sunderland (a), Sat PL.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland)


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Star:

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 1: Diego Costa rescues late point for Blues

JOSE MOURINHO would have enjoyed this.


By Paul Brown / Published 8th February 2016


Chelsea had been outplayed, had a series of penalty claims waved away, and lost Kurt Zouma to what looked like a season-ending injury.

Yet somehow they still managed to escape with a stoppage time goal from Diego Costa, who cancelled out Jesse Lingard’s fine opener to maintain Guus Hiddink’s unbeaten record.

All that was missing was Mourinho snarling and raging in the dug-out at every perceived injustice. If you believe the hype, United fans may not have long to wait for that.

The Special One broke his silence yesterday, admitting he wants back into management as soon as possible. It seems only a matter of time until he is.

For almost 90 minutes it all looked so good for Louis Van Gaal. His side played with the kind of pace and positivity the fans have been demanding for weeks.

But they were undone by Costa, who had penalty claims against Danny Blind waved way three times by referee Michael Oliver, but still found a way to be decisive.

It was a much more cavalier United that started the match, with Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini pulling the strings and the visitors committing men forward in numbers.

Van Gaal made no changes from the team which beat Stoke 3-0, and that win seemed to have restored their confidence.

It wasn’t until Willian picked up the ball in the 16th minute that Chelsea came alive, the winger powering his way straight through the heart of the visiting midfield.

Oscar’s resulting shot was blocked though, and Thibaut Courtois was then forced into a fine one-handed save from Anthony Martial.

Willian was just about the only bright spot for Chelsea in a pretty poor opening for the home side, who looked well out of sorts.

Diego Costa, who had barely touched the ball, was then lucky to escape a booking at a corner won by another surging Willian run.

Costa’s header looped just over the target, but he was being held by Blind and responded furiously when referee Oliver gave nothing.

Suddenly Chelsea burst into life, with a slick move involving Oscar, Willian and John Obi Mkel freeing Costa down the right for a shot which whistled just past the post with De Gea rooted.

Oscar too missed a decent chance, blazing wide when he found himself with time to take aim at the near post from a tight angle.

He’d scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s FA Cup win at MK Dons, and he was inched away from getting on the end of a low Willian centre moments later.

Fellaini nodded a corner from Blind wide at the other end when he should really have done better, but it was hardly gripping stuff.

And Wayne Rooney, quiet up until that point, was a whisker away from connecting from a fine low cross from Matteo Darmian which only needed a touch.

But the half ended in controversy when a John Terry volley struck Blind on the arm. Chelsea wanted a penalty. Referee Oliver said no.

Jesse Lingard forced Courtois into another full-length stop at the start of the second half.

And then came the horrible moment when Zouma’s knee buckled under him, his screams leaving players from both sides demanding the swift intervention of Chelsea’s medical staff.

Almost immediately after the gruesome incident United scored, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson crossing and Rooney laying it off for Lingard, who turned his man to fire home.

Costa wanted another pen when Blind then bundled him over, but all he got was a free kick. This time he just laughed about it.

De Gea pulled off spectacular saves to deny Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas, and Costa headed over before his late goal changed everything.

Borthwick-Jackson actually made a fine save tackle, but in doing so took the ball beyond De Gea and allowed Costa a tap-in. He could even have won it but De Gea denied him moments later.


Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6 (Cahill 59, 6), Terry 7, Azpilicueta 5; Matic 6 (Pedro 67, 6), Mikel 6; Willian 7, Fabregas 6, Oscar 6 (Hazard 55, 6); COSTA 8.
Subs: Begovic, Baba, Traore, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek.

UP NEXT: Newcastle (h), Premier League, Saturday

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Darmian 6, Blind 6, Smalling 6, Borthwick-Jackson 7; Carrick 7, Fellaini 6 (Schneiderlin 79); Lingard 7 (Memphis 87), Mata 6 (Herrera 90), Martial 6; Rooney 6.
Subs: Romero, Varela, McNair, Perreira.
UP NEXT: Sunderland (a), Premier League, Saturday

Star man: Diego Costa (Chelsea) – Never gave up
Star shocker: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) – Beaten for goal
Referee: Michael Oliver 6