Chelsea hoped for playing Champions League football next season a huge boost when the second half of Marc Cucurella saw the header of Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
2024/2025 Premier League
1-0
- Cucurella (71 ')
The blues had to win to ensure that a top five finish was in their own hands, but for a large part of the Friday game they were frustrated by the visitors.
Cucurella, however, went into the excellent cross of Reece James to win a victory that moves Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League.
They are on a target difference above Aston Villa and a point free of the sixth placed Manchester City, who have a competition in hand.
Although his team has a crucial match against Tottenham on Wednesday in the Europa League final, United Baas Ruben Amorim called a strong side for this trip to West London.
It seemed that the decision would fruit when Harry Maguire shot an excellent volley home in the first half, but it was excluded for offside after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The James van Chelsea then hit the left post with a dazzling effort for the break, and the blues thought they had a penalty in the second half when Tyrique George went into the box while Andre Onana ran out to push the ball away.
Initially a spot kick was given, but then excluded after a VAR check, as repetitions showed that Onana first got the ball.
But shortly thereafter, the home fans celebrated a delivery to the distant post from the right and Cucurella got up to accompany a header further than Onana.
Chelsea will travel to Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season, knowing that they can guarantee Champions League football in 2025-26 with a victory.
The defeat for Amorim's United was now their 18th in 37 Premier League matches and leaves them 16th in the table.
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Adarabioyo, Cucurella, Reece James, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Madueke, Enzo, Caicedo, Colwill, Tyrique George
Subs: Bettinelli, Trevoh Chalobah, Dewsbury-Hall, Badiashile, Jørgensen, Gusto, Lavia, Josh Acheampong, Aarón Anselmino
Man Utd XI: Casemiro, Lindelof, Maguire, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Onana, Mount, Mazraoui, Amad Diallo Traore, Højlund, Patrick Dorgu
Subs: Eriksen, Altay Bayındır, Ugarte, Garnacho, Collyer, Mainoo, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, Harry Amass