Internet Desk: It was a nightmarish return to Stamford Bridge for Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho as his side slumped to a 0-4 defeat against Chelsea on Sunday. The former Chelsea boss, regarded as the most successful manager at Stamford Bridge was booed “You’re not special anymore” by the Blues supporters.
The match tipped to be a tactical battle between Antonio Conte and Mourinho eventually turned out to be a damp squib.
The hosts started the match at a lively pace with Pedro Rodriguez opening the scoring after just 30 seconds. United never looked like coming Back into the match as the Blues added more misery in the next 89 minutes. Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante entered their names on the score-sheet for the home side.
Antonio Conte’s side have now won three consecutive league games without conceding a goal and climbed to fourth place, just a point below leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Mourinho, in stark contrast, has already tasted defeat three times in the league with United, who trail City by six points ahead of Wednesday’s Manchester derby in the League Cup fourth round.
Both Wayne Rooney and John Terry did not find favours with their bosses as they were both left out of the playing eleven owing to injuries.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a golden opportunity to equalize after his head of an Antonio Valencia crossed went over the cross piece.
Gary Cahill extended the lead for the Blues in the 21st minute after Hazard’s corner struck Herrera and bounced down inside the six-yard box. Cahill made no mistake tapping past De Gea.
Chelsea went into the breather with a 2-0 lead.
Mourinho changed his strategy at half-time, sending on Juan Mata for Fellaini and moving Marcus Rashford up front alongside Ibrahimovic in a 4-4-2 formation.
He was forced into another change seven minutes into the second half when Eric Bailly sustained a knock, with Marcos Rojo coming on at left-back and Daley Blind moving to centre-back.
A wonderful effort from Eden Hazard sealed the fate for Chelsea in the 62nd minute. Hazard after getting a pass from Matic made room to steer a shot into the far right corner away from the outstretched hands of De Gea.
Kante completed the rout, darting between Smalling and Pogba to tuck away his first Chelsea goal.