Here are the (delayed, sorry) staff takeaways from the win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Colin Damms – Manager, squad and away end all prepared for the occasion
This was a feisty week for Manchester United. A poor loss on return from the international break (and the first under Michael Carrick at home) was followed soon after by a lengthy suspension for Lisandro Martinez, an additional game suspension and fine for Harry Maguire, and a late injury to Leny Yoro that kept the Frenchman out of action in London.
It was a week where it would have been easy to make excuses
heading to Stamford Bridge. It was a week where it would have been easy to direct anger elsewhere for the club’s misfortune and controversial referee decisions. Instead, everyone understood the assignment.
The interim manager, Michael Carrick, understood his first priority was to put together a makeshift back four with a young central defender who hadn’t played much at all on his watch. The players knew they had to rally around those available and prepare to dig in against a team that was desperate for a win. The away end knew they had to be prepared for a difficult match to back the team in hostile territory.
The result was a clean sheet and three invaluable points in the top four race. They understood the opportunity and did what it took to win.
Just look at what it means.
Nathan Heintschel – An old score settled(?) and a clean sheet that likely meant a little more
The traveling fans’ sentiment toward former Red, Alejandro Garnacho, was quite clear as the winger received boos and jeers during his warm up to replace the injured Estêvão early in the first half. His day would continue to be miserable he struggled to produce against his former team — likely irritating the home support.
What I had not realized until the minutes and hours following United’s win at Stamford Bridge was the sentiment toward Garnacho by his former teammates.
I don’t typically care to read into footballers social media posts, but the first image of Luke Shaw’s Instagram carousel definitely made a concise statement. And the subsequent scroll through the comments of the post left little for interpretation.
Furthermore, in the aftermath of the win, it seemed like this was a particularly fulfilling venture for the United players as they earned their first win at the Bridge since before the pandemic. Ayden Heaven’s first post on his feed since early March was a tackle on Liam Delap that sent the forward into the air. Again, the comments from United teammates were congratulatory and memeworthy.
The win at Chelsea obviously meant a lot to the club, which is now in prime position to compete and enjoy the financial spoils of the Champions League next season, but a gritty, physical, siege-breaking performance that was rewarded with a clean sheet might have hit a little harder for a unit currently aggrieved by injuries and suspensions.
