Telegraph:
Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: N'Golo Kante keeps Double dream alive after Ander Herrera red card
Jason Burt
This one came with a Hazard warning. A rip-roaring, raw FA Cup tie with a jagged competitive edge and soaked in bile with Chelsea earning their place in a semi-final tie against Tottenham and Manchester United departing with a burning sense of grievance over the first-half dismissal of Ander Herrera.
The midfielder went for one of umpteen United fouls on Eden Hazard, who was outstanding, with Mourinho also reacting to the chants of the Chelsea fans who once so adored him but turned here. “You’re not special anymore,” and “Judas” they sang and he responded by holding up three fingers and pointing at the pitch for the three Premier League titles he brought to Stamford Bridge.
There will not be an FA Cup this season for United. The holders are out with Chelsea earning a 14th successive home win, through a rare goal from the brilliant N’Golo Kante, who eclipsed Paul Pogba in that keenly fought midfield.
On the touchline Mourinho got under Antonio Conte’s skin, as he endeavoured to do, as he used every weapon at his disposal, but it backfired with Herrera’s red card. Mourinho mixed it up, he unsettled Chelsea, but they did enough to go through.Mourinho did not explain his formation but the set-up was clear: Phil Jones had one job – stop Hazard. It was soon evident why. It meant the United defence morphed between three, four and five at the back depending on where Hazard was. It is unusual in modern football to see a player given such a specific brief but such was the danger that Hazard held.
United’s other brief was clear: press high up the pitch and press aggressively. They aimed to hit Chelsea hard and try and knock them out of their stride. Errors were forced on N’Golo Kanté and Gary Cahill.
So much for Mourinho’s pre-match protestations of fatigue while it was no surprise to see Marcus Rashford recovered from illness (ahem) to lead the line with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial all absent. And it was Rashford, latching onto a long punt forward by Paul Pogba, who fashioned the first chance as he set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan who dragged a low shot narrowly wide.
Conte was unusually pensive and quickly in conversation with his assistant Steve Holland – Mourinho was pumped – and United’s start had taken them aback. Chelsea had also gone for a strong line-up. In previous rounds Conte had made nine changes, then nine changes again and then seven for the fifth round. But this was different.
As was the skill demonstrated by Hazard as he wonderfully tricked Chris Smalling, leaving him grasping, and sprinted into the penalty area only for his driven shot to be brilliantly flicked around the post by David De Gea. The goalkeeper excelled again from the corner as he dived to his right to push away Cahill’s shot after the Chelsea defender had held off Marcos Rojo. Suddenly Chelsea were on top.
The only way to stop Hazard was to foul him and Herrera cynically shouldered him to the ground before Jones also forced him over and Holland decided to speak to fourth official Mike Jones. Soon after and Mourinho demanded a yellow card for Hazard, claiming he dived under Paul Pogba’s challenge. The Chelsea fans did not like that and their choice response confirmed one love affair was definitely over.
Despite the attention Hazard was still finding space and drove at the United defence before slicing a shot high over the cross-bar and, by now, it was the home side who were dominating possession as well as chances and Mourinho’s team were dropping deeper while Rashford struggled to impose himself against Cahill and David Luiz.
They sorely missed the suspended Ibrahimovic and they were soon missing Herrera also as the midfielder, already cautioned, rashly brought down Hazard. Clearly referee Michael Oliver had just warned United against persistently fouling him, he had called over captain Chris Smalling and spoken to Jones, and it was Herrera who paid the price. United were down to 10-men and they were incensed and then so was Conte, after another challenge, this time on Marcos Alonso, and he confronted Mourinho with Oliver eventually called over.
Would the half-time break calm things? United were a man down but Chelsea were ruffled, lacking in rhythm and despite Hazard’s brilliance not the dominant, irrepressible force they have been. They were labouring but managed to find the breakthrough from the most unlikely source. Kante scored.
The ball had been worked across the front of the United penalty area with Willian turning it infield to Kante. For some reason Pogba stood off his fellow French international and Kante took the invitation to shoot, with Rojo also failing to react, by steering a low shot that sped away from De Gea’s grasp and into the net. It was only his second Chelsea goal. The other had also come against United.
Would there be a response? It appeared so when Rashford seized on Luiz’s error, cut across Cahill and - through on goal - drove a fierce shot that was superbly blocked by Thibaut Courtois. At the other end Diego Costa met a corner but powered his unchallenged header past the post. He also should have scored before Willian side-footed just over from the area’s edge.
Meanwhile a running battle between Costa and Rojo simmered away, boiled over at times, before the football broke out again with De Gea beating away Moses's rising shot and Costa just failing to connect with Willian’s cross. That would have ended it but it spilled over again as Ashley Young hacked down Moses. Once more the managers clashed and the tension rose. While there was only one goal in this United tried to hit back. But it was Chelsea’s quarter-final.
===========================
Guardian:
N’Golo Kanté sends Chelsea past 10-man Manchester United in FA Cup
Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd
Daniel Taylor at Stamford Bridge
Perhaps there will be a day in the future when José Mourinho can return to Stamford Bridge without the rancour and acrimony that accompanied this tie. It might, however, be a long time away judging by the sourness that infiltrated another triumphant night for Chelsea and left Mourinho trying desperately to get in the last word. “Judas is No1,” was a nice soundbite from the former Chelsea manager, reflecting on his trophy count in these parts, but only a small victory considering the joys for Antonio Conte.
By the time it was all done Conte’s team were into a semi-final against Tottenham and their supporters were left wondering whether he might emulate Carlo Ancelotti by finishing his first season at the club with the double. N’Golo Kanté had scored in the game’s decisive moment five minutes into the second half and, after that, it was always going to be difficult for Manchester United bearing in mind Ander Herrera had been sent off during what looked suspiciously like a premeditated campaign to target Eden Hazard. Conte was convinced, accusing United of “trying to intimidate” and describing their tactics in this part of the match as “only kicking”.
It was probably no surprise, therefore, there were times when Conte and Mourinho clashed on the touchline like two warring stags. A feud is taking shape and it cannot help Mourinho’s mood that the new guy in town keeps getting the better of them. This was the second time Mourinho has been back to Chelsea and he has lost both times, conceding five goals and not scoring once.
The repercussions for United could involve disciplinary action for the team because of their protests after Herrera’s second yellow card. Marcos Rojo could also be in trouble after a stamp on Hazard and, along the way, there was the hard evidence of how Mourinho’s relationship with the Chelsea supporters has changed. A manager with his trophy collection might have thought he was immune to the kind of vitriolic chants and abuse that could be heard behind his dugout. Mourinho responded by holding up three fingers – one for each league championship – and it is safe to assume this is how it is going to be from now onwards. Diplomatic relations are off.
Did United really target Hazard? It was nothing like as brutal as the time, infamously, when a succession of Sir Alex Ferguson’s players ganged up on José Antonio Reyes during the height of the United-Arsenal rivalry. Yet the referee, Michael Oliver, was sufficiently concerned to hold up play after 35 minutes and bring over United’s captain, Chris Smalling, to make it clear that he would not tolerate any more. Play restarted and Herrera, already booked for a bodycheck on Hazard, evidently did not believe the warning applied to him. Two touches later and the Belgian was on the floor again. Herrera let down his team. He was foolish in the extreme and later on Antonio Valencia was fortunate not to go the same way after diving in, two-footed, on Kanté, the game’s outstanding performer.
By that stage Mourinho and Conte were doing their best to ignore one another in the manner of two fourth-formers who had fallen out over a game of marbles. It was gloriously childish but also great fun. For long spells both managers stubbornly went through the pretence that the other did not exist. At other times they could be seen screaming into each other’s face, separated only by the fourth official. One argument was sufficient for Oliver to hold up play again and the body language as they received their telling-off was a picture: two grown men with their backs slightly turned so they did not have to make eye contact. It was a lesson in juvenile point-scoring.
As for the actual football – oh yes, the football – the game was always likely to swing in Chelsea’s favour once they had the extra man and it was almost a surprise they restricted themselves to only one goal during a challenging second half for their opponents.
A man down, Mourinho brought on Marouane Fellaini in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan to give his team a more robust edge. Phil Jones was operating as a deep-lying midfielder and Ashley Young was also under instructions to drop back from the left wing. United, in other words, spent parts of the night operating with a 6-2-1 system, the paradox being that Kanté’s goal came from a gaping hole 25 yards out. David de Gea had been superb in the first half but Paul Pogba, who had a poor night, was slow to close down the shot and Rojo simply watched it go by without attempting to get his body in the way. Marcus Rashford did have a chance to catch Chelsea on the break but Thibaut Courtois kept out the shot and a grumpy night had a happy ending for Conte and his players.
================================
Independent:
N'Golo Kante strike enough as Chelsea fend off 10-man Manchester United in feisty FA Cup clash
Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: Holders crashed out after an early Herrera red
Miguel Delaney at Stamford Bridge
So, rather than trebles it’s doubles, as a single N’Golo Kante goal was enough to subject Jose Mourinho for a second successive defeat at his old club and keep Chelsea en route for both the Premier League and FA Cup.
Antonio Conte’s side go into the semi-finals, powered by some of the notable anger of this match in its early stages, and having completely commanded the majority of this FA Cup sixth-round 1-0 win over Manchester United. Mourinho will have the excuse of Ander Herrera’s red card from those rancorous opening exchanges and the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic but, at this point, it seems there’s always an excuse when there’s yet another setback.
The game really highlighted a fair few disparities between the squads and why Chelsea are top and United sixth, as the home side could have ended up winning by a lot more against a generally unambitious side, Victor Moses was doing so much more than a relative United counterpart like Matteo Darmian and - most of all - match-winner N’Golo Kante showed Paul Pogba what a real value-for-money performance was. There was also the fact that Herrera’s red was probably a consequence of United’s primary gameplan in shackling Chelsea’s main playmaker, even if they can debate the nature of the second yellow card.
Either way, Chelsea were much the better team by the end.
If the build-up to this fixture was dominated by subtle mind games about who exactly plays counter-attacking football and what exactly constitutes that type of approach, the match started with two robust sides that created a lot of properly physical confrontations - and that occasionally threatened to spread the benches. This had spark.
Mourinho has often been accused of lacking the required innovation in recent years, but his starting line-up was something rarely seen in the game: four centre-halves at the back, two effective wing-backs and an entire gameplan that seemed to be just about stopping Hazard.
With the spike of the occasion, it was perhaps inevitable that two players like Herrera and Diego Costa would come together early on, although they helped each other up in an endearing moment that was quite different from what was to come.
These early clashes still created enough space for some football, although mostly from Chelsea. United’s best opportunity came from a punt up that looked to release Marcus Rashford - back in the team after Mourinho so conspicuously and pointedly saying he was ill - with Henrikh Mkhitaryan then driving just wide. It wasn’t long until Hazard eventually got free, though. His supreme run and shot on 16 minutes almost opened the scoring, and temporarily saw Chelsea open up.
They laid siege for the next few minutes, with David De Gea pulling off the save of the game from an improvised Gary Cahill shot in the box.
It wasn’t going to be long, either, until it properly kicked off. With United players appearing to be on some kind of rota to tackle Hazard, the Belgian was caught by Herrera on 20 minutes. A yellow card came out and another warning had been offered. It was not heeded. With referee Michael Oliver now repeatedly telling players that he would get more cards, Herrera went in on Hazard with a more routine challenge on 35 minutes, the playmaker again going down. It saw the Spaniard go off. Oliver got a second card out, leading to Conte aggressively celebrating as if it was a last-minute equaliser.
It was far from the only flashpoint on the sideline. Chelsea fans near the press box had been showing how much their attitude to Mourinho had changed by telling him where to go in obviously vulgar terms, leading to him holding up three fingers and pointing to the pitch to obviously highlight how many titles he’d won more, and the home fans to sing “it’s all your fault”, “you ruined it” among other such offerings.
Moments later, after Marcos Alonso and Antonio Valencia had been involved in another head-to-head, Mourinho was straight over to the fourth official to complain… only for Conte to charge over and get screaming in his face. It was as if the Italian had been waiting for the opportunity. There were no subtle mind games here.
Oliver was unwilling to let it continue, however, and called both managers over for a talking-to.
Mourinho had probably made his own biggest statement by hauling off Mkhitaryan for Marouane Fellaini the second Herrera was sent off, making his gameplan now abundantly clear. The necessity with this kind of approach and a mere 10 men on the pitch, though, is that you need everyone doing their job to the maximum.
The again-subdued Paul Pogba was not doing that, got caught just after 50 minutes, and Kante caught the ball well to make it 1-0 from the edge of the box. In truth, the shot seemed to surprise both Pogba and De Gea - probably because this was just Kante’s second goal for Chelsea and third in English football - but it was no surprise Conte’s side were in the lead. The pattern had been set since the red card. Mourinho looked as livid after the goal as he’d done at any other point in the game.
Chelsea were by then in total command with a series of efforts - from Victor Moses to Costa - that went narrowly wide, although there was one big warning with the game still at 1-0 when Rashford too easily got free from Gary Cahill on the break… but then finished imprecisely for Thibaut Courtois to save well.
Possibly alerted into action, though, there was an impressive mental sharpness about what Chelsea did thereafter. They supremely manipulated the space - and the extra man - to herd United into their own area like cattle. It’s difficult to say whether frustration got the better of Mourinho’s side once that started to happen, but a few challenges and fouls bore that hallmark.
Valencia went in with conspicuous aggression on Alonso, and at one point Pogba was resorted to just bundling Kante to the ground. It was the only time he could get near him, the only time he could get something on target. The world-record signing tried a shot close to the end of the game that could still have rescued United, only for it to go pitifully wide.
Mourinho won’t win three trophies, but Conte can still win two, after beating United again.
=========================================
Mail:
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: N'Golo Kante fires Antonio Conte's side into the FA Cup semi-finals after Ander Herrera sees red at Stamford Bridge
By Martin Samuel for the Daily Mail
So, if Paul Pogba is £89million of midfield player what, right now, would N'Golo Kante be worth? More, in real terms, obviously. Whether a club would pay it is another matter; equally, whether Kante has a price.
This was another performance that makes him as good as invaluable to Chelsea. Ominous, for those still to face them, too.
If Kante can add scoring goals from outside the area to his repertoire of hard running, hard tackling and largely being in two places at once for 90 minutes, then he might just turn out to be the most complete player in English football.
His accomplishments on Monday night included the winning goal and putting the world's most expensive player, Pogba, in the shade. Yet to say he is Chelsea's engine is to damn with faint praise, as vital as that role appears. Kante is more than just a midfield grafter, a destroyer, a guy who gives it to those who can play. He plays, too.
His goal after 51 minutes wasn't just some pot-luck shot from outside the area, but a ball swept low into the corner of David de Gea's goal from range, deciding the game when Chelsea's more familiar avenues had proved dead ends.
Antonio Conte's side had a man over for the best part of an hour thanks to Ander Herrera's second sending-off of the season, but while they had chances to finish the game off late there was no other way through.
Jose Mourinho had set United up to resist and they did that well. Enter Kante. Already winning his head-to-head with Pogba at a canter — not that he ever canters — he settled the match with his first goal since October 23.
That, the visiting fans will ruefully testify, was against Manchester United, too, but it was the cherry on the top of a 4-0 win, not the main meal.
Kante got a straightforward square ball from Willian and, from a position that suggested little threat, noted that Pogba had not closed him down with sufficient urgency and clipped it quite superbly out of the reach of De Gea.
Two points made for the price of one, to leave Chelsea edging ever closer to the Double in Conte's first season. The sending-off was the turning point obviously, but that does not mean Chelsea would not have found a way against 11. They usually have this season.
If nothing else, the way Mourinho approached this game made plain he is not the sort to make the same mistake twice. Having been well beaten here earlier in the season and with striking options limited to a peaky Marcus Rashford, he made plans for Chelsea, some of them quite extreme.
Phil Jones was detailed to keep watch over Eden Hazard, his team-mates eagerly filling in when he could not get close enough. It was brutal at times.
After 35 minutes, Manchester United were down to 10 and the persistent fouls on Hazard were responsible. It could be argued that Herrera was unfortunate, that his offences were not the worst and perhaps did not amount to a red card.
Yet, undeniably, he was also foolish, and his timing could barely have been worse. No matter United's protests, in the end, a referee has to make a stand to exert his authority and protect the most gifted players. In that context, Herrera got what was coming to him.
He had already been booked after 20 minutes, bringing to an end another surging Hazard run. The Belgian was haring towards goal and had laid the ball off when Herrera blocked his path.
Did he know what he was doing? Probably. Does it say anywhere in the rulebook that a player must move out of the way to let another pass? No. Herrera seemed to be standing his ground more than intentionally moving into Hazard. Referee Michael Oliver saw it differently and booked him — to his, and Mourinho's, disgust.
The fouls continued. Hazard bundled over by Jones. Hazard sent tumbling by Jones again. Not violent, but persistent. Oliver called the player over with Smalling, his captain, and delivered a lecture. The theme, one imagines, was: 'Cut it out, leave him alone, or I'll have to take action.'
From the restart, Hazard got the ball and Herrera tripped him. Well, in Oliver's position, what would you have done? Yes, Hazard made a meal of it and fell quite dramatically, but, yes, it was a trip. If nothing else it was a challenge to Oliver's authority — an act that as good as flicked a V-sign in his direction after the summit that had preceded it.
He was reaching for his cards almost before Hazard hit the floor. Herrera was incensed, again, so too Mourinho. For much of the game he had been at war with fourth official Mike Jones, Antonio Conte and the fans who once professed their love for him.
Jones had kept the managers apart on more than one occasion. When those in the stands barracked him, Mourinho responded with three fingers — whether to signify the number of times he thought Hazard had fallen cheaply, or the number of titles they owed him, who can say?
By now, we were at boiling point. After another confrontation, Jones called for back-up. Over came Oliver to warn the managers that Herrera might not be the only one leaving early if this continued. An uneasy truce resulted.
The game? Well, it was intriguing while 11 against 11. Manchester United clearly came with a very precise game plan which seemed to frustrate Chelsea rather well. Yet Hazard was never less than terrifying on the counter-attack and, through him, Chelsea forged the better of the play.
It was his run after 16 minutes, taking out Smalling with a single touch and sailing past Marcos Rojo that ended with De Gea's first good save of the night. From the corner he made his second, a brilliant low stop to claw away an effort from Gary Cahill.
Chelsea could have scored on several occasions as the effects of playing them with 10 men took a toll.
Diego Costa should have converted a free header, Willian had a very useful shot curl just wide, De Gea saved from Cesc Fabregas in injury time — but the best chance of the second half fell to Rashford, capitalising on a mistake by David Luiz to skin Cahill and force a brilliant save from Thibaut Courtois.
It wasn't much to show for a night that stretches Manchester United's winless run against Chelsea to 12 games, though.
United had just 28 per cent possession and may hear more about what looked to be a Rojo stamp on Hazard late in the game. And if the Football Association are not showing much interest, a caller from Bournemouth may wish to engage them.
MATCH FACTS
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Moses 7 (Zouma, 89), Kante 9, Matic 7, Alonso 6.5, Willian 7.5 (Fabregas, 80), Costa 6 (Batshuayi, 90+2), Hazard 8.5
Subs not used: Begovic, Terry, Chalobah, Pedro
Goal: Kante (51)
Booked: Costa
MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-3): De Gea 8; Jones 7.5, Smalling 7.5, Rojo 7; Valencia 6.5, Darmian 7, Herrera 5, Pogba 6; Young 6 (Lingard, 80), Mkhitaryan 5.5 (Fellaini, 37), Rashford 6
Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Carrick, Mata
Sent off: Herrera 35
Booked: Herrera (2), Young
Referee: Michael Oliver 6.5
Man of the Match: N'Golo Kante
Attendance: 40,801
Player ratings by Sami Mokbel
=======================================
Express:
Chelsea 1 - Man United 0: Blues heading to Wembley after controversial red card aids win
THE fireworks were on the touchline – but the only strike that counted came from the man who hardly ever shoots.
By TONY BANKS
N’Golo Kante fired Chelsea into an FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham last night with the only goal of a tempestuous quarter-final tie, which finally ended the resistance of Manchester United’s 10 men.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, watching as a television pundit, afterwards called Kante the best central midfielder in the world right now. And he knows a thing or two about that.
But the Frenchman, known more for his astonishing ability to cover ground and snuff out the opposition, almost found his performance overshadowed by two men who know all about fireworks.
Rival managers Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho clashed face to face furiously three times on the touchline, having to be separated by their staff each time, and fourth official Mike Jones. Both were warned by referee Michael Oliver about their conduct.
At the end, as both dashed onto the field to congratulate their players, there was no handshake. They never even came close to each other until the press conference where a handshake was finally exchanged.
When Chelsea beat United 4-0 in the league in October, Mourinho, back on the stomping ground where he won three league titles, accused Conte of trying to humiliate him as he whipped up the crowd. The enmity is still there, still simmering.
Last night, Mourinho was left fuming at Anders Herrera’s dismissal by Oliver for two yellow cards, the second a debatable challenge on Eden Hazard. It was the moment that fundamentally ended this match as a real contest, however hard United fought.
And as the fans taunted him, yelling “**ck off Mourinho,” he held up three fingers to them and pointed to the floor.
Three titles here. But when all the fuss had died down, Chelsea’s dreams of the Double are still alive - and Conte’s men right now seem able to pass any test they are faced with.
The scare stories before the match about United having no fit forwards available, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic banned and Wayne Rooney and Antony Martial injured, turned to be just that. Scare stories.
Marcus Rashford had recovered from his ‘illness’ and took his place. Typical Mourinho mind games? Maybe. United had made massive strides since being hammered 4-0 in October, not losing in their following 17 league matches.
But Chelsea, ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table and with only one loss in their last 21 games, were in formidable form. No one though, as Chelsea knew only too well, is better at organising a rearguard action and nicking a result than the guy in the other dug-out.
United though could actually have been in front after just a minute last night, when the unmarked Marcos Rojo headed over.
Mourinho’s team were at Chelsea ferociously from the start - pressing high, snapping into tackles, they went close again when Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot just wide. Conte’s team were simply given no room to play in.
But this Chelsea can create danger in an instant. Eden Hazard brilliantly turned Chris Smalling, danced round Rojo, and David De Gea brilliantly tipped his deflected shot round the post. From the corner Gary Cahill found a yard, but De Gea reacted superbly again.
Hazard again dribbled through and shot over. The pace was relentless, and unforgiving. Conte and Mourinho clashed on the touchline as Hazard went down again.
Then Herrera - already booked for a foul on Hazard - clattered again into the Belgian, who fell threatrically. Another yellow and the Spaniard was off and United down to ten men. Mourinho smiled ironically.
Now, United had no choice but to hold on and hope. But they cracked just five minutes into the second half, as Willian fed Kante, and he fired low into the corner from 20 yards. The brilliant Frenchman’s only other goal this season had also come against Mourinho’s team.
Rashford, alone up front, was still dangerous. As David Luiz missed the ball, he bamboozled Cahill, but Thibaut Courtois pulled off a brilliant save. It was United’s moment, and it had gone.
The chances though were coming regularly at the other end, as Diego Costa somehow headed wide, Willian curled one just over, and then saw De Gea save his rising shot. Costa tumbled, but the penalty appeals were waved away.
Paul Pogba wasted another opportunity as he drove wide, and United’s chance dribbled away into the West London night. The nights Mourinho so used to love.
But they forget you see, Jose. They forget.
==========================================
Sun:
SINGING THE BLUES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: N’Golo Kante fires Blues to Wembley as they overcome Red Devils in hot-tempered FA Cup clash
Midfielder pops up with rare goal to down Jose Mourinho's side after Ander Herrera saw red for the visitors
By Gary Stonehouse and Andrew Dillon
CHELSEA are into the FA Cup semi-finals and will face Tottenham after a rare N’Golo Kante goal fired them to a 1-0 victory over ten-man Manchester United.
The Frenchman’s strike proved the difference as the Blues continued their quest for a league and cup double following this hot-tempered affair at Stamford Bridge – which saw Ander Herrera sent off for the visitors.
After a cagey opening, with a Henrikh Mkitaryan effort going wide for the visitors, the Premier League leaders finally burst into life on 16 minutes.
Keep up to date with ALL the CHELSEA and MANCHESTER UNITED, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Eden Hazard span away from Chris Smalling on halfway, skipping past three men before firing a low drive that David de Gea managed to push clear.
The Spanish stopper produced an ever better save seconds later, somehow managing to claw Gary Cahill’s effort out when it looked a certain goal.
It was getting feisty with a number of niggling fouls, and Herrera’s received his first card after a body check on Hazard.
And before the half was out he received his marching orders for another foul on the Blues talisman.
Despite his heroics in the first 45 minutes, de Gea was nowhere near the opener when it arrived shortly after the restart, as Paul Pogba's slow closing down allowed Kante to break the deadlock with low shot into the bottom corner.
Marcus Rashford then skinned Cahill as he sent him one then the other as the Red Devils looked for an immediate response, but Thibaut Courtois stood up well to deny the youngster.
It was all-action now, and Diego Costa powered a free header wide of the post to double Chelsea's advantage.
De Gea was at it again to deny Willian at the near post with just under twenty minutes left, and despite a late rally by United, the Blues were not punished for their missed chances as they sealed their spot at Wembley.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
Chelsea dropped Cesc Fabregas in a tough call for boss Antonio Conte after the Spaniard’s sound performances in the last two games.
Stamford Bridge became a smoking zone as clouds of dry ice were pumped onto the pitch in a move to pump up the atmosphere - or choke it.
Long serving club captain John Terry also dropped suggesting the veteran defender could well have played his last game at Stamford Bridge.
The Manchester United players were furious with the decision to send off Ander Herrera
Jose Mourinho opted for a casual outfit of gilet and sneakers - he steadfastly wore overcoat and smart shoes when Chelsea boss.
Football went out of the window as the teams and coaches went to war on 35 minutes. Herrera sent off for a foul on Hazard having been booked and Mourinho and Conte square up - ref Michael Oliver having to halt play to speak to both men.
Chelsea fans then finally turn on one time hero Mourinho after he complains about a foul. Chants of ‘f*** off Mourinho’ and ‘It’s All Your Fault’ in relation to Chelsea’s appalling form last season.
Mourinho responds with a three fingered gesture to them - in recognition of the three Premier League titles he won as Chelsea boss.N’Golo Kante put Chelsea ahead in the 55th minute with his first goal since October 23 - against the same opposition.
Marcus Rashford skins Gary Cahill but then wastes superb chance to equalise with a poor shot straight at keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Antonio Valencia was lucky to escape a red card for a two footed lunge over the ball at goalscorer Kante.
======================================
Mirror:
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Kante stunner sends Blues into FA Cup semi-finals - 5 things we learned
The Frenchman continued his incredible season by scoring the winner at Stamford Bridge
BY LIAM PRENDERVILLE
Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup by beating Manchester United in a fiery clash at Stamford Bridge.
The excellent N'Golo Kante scored the only goal of the game as Antonio Conte's men remain on course for the double.
The Frenchman, who dominated Paul Pogba throughout, fired home from the edge of the box to beat David De Gea.
Ander Herrera had seen red during the first-half for United, before Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte clashed.
Here are five things we learned.
1. Kante edges out Pogba
They were the two big midfield buys last summer after a fine Euro 2016 with France.
But it was N'Golo Kante who dominated his countryman at Stamford Bridge.
Kante was destructive in front of the Chelsea back four and even popped up with the winner.
Surely the Footballer of the Year.
2. Herrera red changes the game
It was a big call and it certainly affected this one.
Jose Mourinho had his side set up to defend and when Ander Herrera was dismissed, his plans went out of the window.
It was harsh on the Spaniard but you can see why Michael Oliver dismissed him.
3. No love lost between the bosses
Ahead of the encounter, Antonio Conte spoke of the respect between he and Jose Mourinho.
They clashed earlier in the season and it didn't take long for history to repeat itself.
The Ander Herrera red card didn't help matters before a late challenge on Marcos Alonso from Antonio Valencia.
Fourth official Mike Jones had a busy evening as he came between the duo.
Safe to say, they won't be receiving Christmas cards from one another.
4. De Gea remains the best
The Manchester United stopper is having another fine season.
De Gea was well-beaten by Kante but he made a number of fine saves, none better than the stop to deny Cahill.
He is the best in England...and arguably the world.
You have to think United would be a lot worse off without him.
5. The double is on
Chelsea are romping to the Premier League title and they must now be favourites to add the FA Cup to their trophy cabinet this season.
Despite the slender margin of victory they were rarely troubled by United at the Bridge and take on a Spurs side in the last four at Wembley who look likely to be without talisman Harry Kane.
It could turn out to be an even more incredible first season in English football for Antonio Conte than we thought.
Andy Dunn's player ratings
Courtois 7 - Largely redundant but made one crucial save from Rashford
Moses 6 - Mourinho tactics negated his impact, pressed back more than usual
Azpilicueta 7 - A very calm contribution but hardly stretched by a one-man attack
Luiz 7 - Another Chelsea defender with a cigar on the go for most of the time
Cahill 6 - Seemed to be targeted by Rashford and exposed occasionally
Alonso 6 - Like his fellow wing-back, found himself pinned at times
Matic 7 - Enjoyed the physcial confrontations and grew into the game
Kante 7 - Not at his most eye-catching but stepped up with the breakthrough
Willian 6 - Put in a serious shift but nothing much came off for him
Hazard 8 - MOTM. Flashes of brilliance and his victimisation ended up changing the game
Costa 6 - Put himself around as usual but not to great effect
Subs
Fabregas (for Willian, 81)
Zouma (for Moses, 89)
Batshuayi (for Costa, 90)
Manchester United
De Gea 6 - Two great first half save but wrong-footed for the Kante goal
Jones 7 - It is not always pretty but certainly left his mark on the game
Smalling 6 - Standard stuff, some crucial blocks but some rushes of blood
Rojo 7 - The marshalling figure in a packed United defence. Pretty solid
Darmian 6 - Conceded a welter of free-kicks but never less than tenacious
Valencia 6 - Wary about over-committing and not a major factor
Herrera 4 - Sent off. Two yellows a little harsh but a dismissal that has been coming for a while.
Pogba 6 - Relished the physical battle and made his mark on the contest
Mkhitaryan 6 - Had one decent effort before tactical withdrawal after Herrera red
Young 6 - Mainly restricted to defensive duties which he carried out diligently
Rashford 7 - Often a thankless task but selflessly ran himself into the ground
Subs
Fellaini (Mkhitaryan, 37) 6
Lingard (for Young, 81)
=======================================
Star:
Chelsea 1 Man United 0: N'Golo Kante keeps double alive as ten-men United crash out of cup
N’GOLO KANTE kept his head while everyone else was losing theirs at Stamford Bridge last night.
By Paul Brown
With Ander Herrera sent off for two stupid fouls on Eden Hazard and both managers at one point looking ready to trade blows, Kante kept his cool to score a belter.
How Manchester United must hate him. He’s only scored twice this season and both have come against them. Comparisons were made between him and Paul Pogba before kick-off.
But Kante won this battle hands down, with Pogba failing to close him down for his goal and being subjected to chants of “What a waste of money” from home fans.
It all meant another miserable return to the Bridge for Jose Mourinho, whose side were walloped 4-0 here in October.
At one point he even had a spat with the Chelsea fans, responding to their taunts by sticking three fingers up as if to remind them how many titles he won here.
But the Special One isn’t so special in these parts any more. Antonio Conte is the new hero to Blues fans and his side are still on course for a Premier League and FA Cup Double.
Mourinho got his excuses in early by claiming his side were tired and missing key men like the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But he resisted the urge to throw this one away like Manchester City did here last February. With bigger fish to fry, City played a shadow team and got smashed 5-1.
Instead, Mourinho named the strongest team he could, and it was no real surprise to see Marcus Rashford in the starting line-up despite talk of a pre-match illness.
In fairness Chelsea took it seriously too. Unlike in previous rounds there was little rotation and no room for any of the fringe players in Conte’s squad.
Mourinho has been taking digs at his old club ever since they dished out his worst defeat in English football back in October.
But while he shook hands with Conte before kick-off and got a warm welcome from John Terry and his former assistant Steve Holland, there was no handshake after this one.
After Mourinho went with three at the back against Rostov in the Europa League, there was speculation he’d match up with Chelsea. But it was more of a five, or even six, at times.
Sometimes it feels like you need five or six just to stop Eden Hazard, and it was the Belgian who almost drew first blood.
He turned Chris Smalling and then left him for dead before beating Marcos Rojo and forcing De Gea into a fine fingertip save with a deflected shot.
If that was good from De Gea, better was to come from the resulting corner when he somehow turned away Gary Cahill’s effort from point-blank range.
Conte had promised not to tone down his touchline antics despite Mourinho’s complaints, and he exploded in fury when Herrera decked Hazard for his first booking.
Mourinho then went potty when Herrera got his second yellow for a stupid trip on the Belgian. But he laughed ruefully when the red card came out.
Herrera initially refused to walk and United players mobbed referee Michael Oliver before he finally accepted his fate.
Then, with Mourinho screaming that Marcos Alonso had dived after another crunching tackle, Conte lost it and the pair had to be kept apart by fourth official Mike Jones.
Down to ten, United were dogged and determined. But they were undone by Kante’s 52nd-minute bolt from the blue, which surprised De Gea and skidded past him into the far corner.
Rashford should have punished a defensive slip by David Luiz soon afterwards but after turning Cahill inside out he fired his shot against the legs of Thibaut Courtois.
From the corner, Chelsea almost scored again on a breakaway led by Kante only for Matteo Darmian to clear the danger, before Diego Costa sent a free header wide.
But in the end Kante’s strike proved the difference. A trophy gone for United. A club record 13th home win in a row for Chelsea. Can anyone stop them?
No comments:
Post a Comment