The next Champions League campaign for Manchester United is not yet guaranteed to be overseen by Michael Carrick, but whether it is him or someone else in charge next season, there is no doubting the scale of the turnaround.
There are five games left in this United season that was long since pared down to the basics of league football, and they have a 10-point margin of safety on Champions League qualification. Carrick’s United have taken 26 points from the 12 games he has been in charge and he needs just six more to equal the total that his predecessor Ruben Amorim returned in 21 games.
That all feels a long time ago, and another Carrick win meant that afterwards he could dismiss concerns about the home defeat to Leeds United on Monday night with a shrug. Not many United managers in recent years can ride away from a defeat to that opponent with such confidence – but Carrick is among them. His team came thundering back with an away win against the very side who now sit the wrong side of that 10-point margin United have to fifth place.
Chelsea are on a dreadful run but they were by no means dreadful in this game. They came up against an counterattacking United team who absorbed the pressure and then punished the home side on the break. They only needed one goal in the end, Matheus Cunha’s tidy finish late in the first half, although there was quite some resilience at the other end.
A late problem for Leny Yoro meant that injury and suspension deprived Carrick of his four first-choice central defenders. In their stead came an unlikely partnership of Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven, who rode their luck at times but were generally excellent. Carrick proclaimed Kobbie Mainoo’s performance in front of the back four as his best yet in the current manager’s time. Where once calamity would befall United there was a confidence in the gameplan that saw them through.
There was something of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer years – the happier period – about this performance and it showed the benefit of playing to the strengths of the team. “These are the moments we live for,” Carrick said, of the acclaim of the away end and the emptying stands around the rest of the stadium. As much that went right for United, went wrong for Chelsea.
Liam Rosenior is in a bleak place, without a win at Stamford Bridge in the league since January 31. The only win in any competition in the last eight was against Port Vale. Estêvão Willian was in tears at half-time, according to Rosenior, the Brazilian substituted with a muscle problem sustained when he ran in on goal early in the game. Rosenior would say that his team dominated and that Cunha’s goal was the only attempt on target United had all evening.
But it does remain the case that if there is a way to lose these kinds of games then Chelsea will find it. Their defender Wesley Fofana was briefly off the pitch when United scored, and it is those kinds of moments when they seem unable to improvise.
Before the game Chelsea supporters marched with peers from RC Strasbourg, the other club under the ownership of the BlueCo consortium in protest against the latter before the match. That did not attract as much support as the US investors who own Chelsea might have feared but the mood soon changed in the stadium. As time ticked down, the senior partner in that venture, Behdad Eghbali, was singled out for criticism.
It is more than six hours of regulation Premier League match time now since Rosenior’s team scored a goal. “They are good lads,” Rosenior said of his players, “they are honest and they are working hard, and I don’t want them to think that everything is going against them.”
Which may well be true but the question is what it likely spells for Rosenior. The restless Chelsea ownership will not stick with a manager when there is the promise of a better alternative. Away at an in-form Brighton on Tuesday this has the scope to get even worse.
Chelsea had the better of it in the first half before United, and not for the first time, found some space in their left-back position and exploited it. The first time Cunha’s first touch was very poor when he reached Bryan Mbeumo’s cross. So much so that his second was an attempt at retrieval sufficiently wild he was booked for the challenge on Jorrel Hato. He did not make the same mistake the second time.
This time it was Bruno Fernandes spying his opportunity for another assist. He got the other side of his former team-mate Alejandro Garnacho in the blink of an eye and from the byline saw the run of Cunha. The ball into his stride was stroked past Robert Sánchez.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026Manchester Utd make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge through Matheus Cunha 💥
Bruno Fernandes gets his 18th Premier League assist this season in the process!
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/1eKF8RUNm5
Garnacho was an early replacement for Estêvão, and there was a relentless barracking of the former United winger from the away support. It would be hard to say that the home fans tried to drown it out. By the time the hour was up, Chelsea were well on top. Lots of possession. Dangerous when the ball was launched into the area – and also wide open at the back.
Liam Delap got a fine header on 56 minutes that Senne Lammens gave up as a lost cause and watched clip the bar. But there were not lots of Chelsea chances as time ticked down and the urgency grew. Enzo Fernández was back in the team, albeit not as captain and he too had a calf problem that may mean problems for Tuesday. Now 10 points behind United, the Champions League is slipping away from Chelsea.
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“Up until the box, we were very good. I can only say what I saw, I thought we were the dominant team from minute one until the end of the game. But to lose this game in the manner we did is extremely disappointing because we had many opportunities to win it.”
On Manchester Utd scoring with Wesley Fofana off the pitch:
“Extremely frustrating. I think it was their only shot on target, we were down to ten men in that moment but we have to defend it better. At this level, you cannot switch off at any moment, no matter how in control of the game you are. It feels like any small mistake is ending up in the back of our net and that has to change.”
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“It is so difficult. Today they [Manchester United] had one shot on target while we were down to 10 men [whilst Wesley Fofana was off the pitch]. We had wave after wave of attack and hit the woodwork I think four times. I do not want my team to feel things are against us. We have to keep fighting.”
On the goal they conceded:
“We have to defend that moment better. We do not and we get punished. At the moment any small mistake we are making and the ball ends up in the back of our net and that has to change. It is about results and we have not got a result today we should have. The small things add up but we have to keep working hard.”
Does he feel under pressure?
“No. I put myself under the most pressure. We just have to keep working with the staff and the players to turn things around.”
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"I can't play that one down; that was massive. That was a big win for us" 🔴
Michael Carrick shares his delight with Manchester Utd's away win at Chelsea.
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/i5Qxp7OdPU
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"He's the best player in the Premier League" 🌟
Owen Hargreaves gives Bruno Fernandes the ultimate praise as he closes in on the record for the most assists in a Premier League season.
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/a5qKv5hvIl
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April 27: Manchester United vs Brentford
May 3: Manchester United vs Liverpool
May 9: Sunderland vs Manchester United
May 17: Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest
May 24: Brighton vs Manchester United
They are not too far off sealing Champions League qualification for next season. It may well be that they only need a handful more points to do it.
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"We had to bounce back... Our aim is to make the top four" 💪
Bruno Fernandes reflects on a huge win for Manchester Utd against Chelsea in their quest for Champions League football next season.
🎙️ @julesbreach
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/c4Wh0aHvDR
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April 21: Brighton vs Chelsea (Premier League)
April 26: Chelsea vs Leeds (FA Cup)
May 4: Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
May 9: Liverpool vs Chelsea (Premier League)
May 17: Chelsea vs Tottenham (Premier League)
Chelsea are back in league action on Tuesday at Brighton before a FA Cup semi-final next weekend against Leeds. Liam Rosenior’s side are four points off the top five and that could grow to seven tomorrow if Liverpool beat Everton in gthe Merseyside Derby.
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Today:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2
Tottenham 2 Brighton 2
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Sunday:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Monday:
Crystal Palace vs West Ham 8pm
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Possession: Chelsea 60%-40% Manchester United
Shots: 21-4
Shots on target: 3-1
Corners: 7-1
Touches in opposition box: 40-10
Plenty of statistics were in Chelsea’s favour tonight but the all-important one was in Manchester United’s favour.
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Chelsea have lost four league games in a row without scoring a goal for the first time since 1998. They have not scored in the Premier League in more than six hours.
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Manchester United deal with the danger before the final whistle is blown. A massive three points for the visitors, who take another big step towards Champions League qualification. The final whistle is met with boos by the home fans, who could fall seven points off the Champions League places with five games to go if Liverpool beat Everton tomorrow.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026🏁 FT: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester Utd
Liam Rosenior's side fall to their fourth straight Premier League defeat, whilst the injury-hit Red Devils strengthen their grip on third place.
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/ug0B8DXet6
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Neto clips in the free-kick but Manchester United deal with it. However, Chelsea keep it alive and win another free-kick on the other side. Mainoo is into the book and this is last chance saloon for Chelsea with keeper Sanchez sent up.
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Manchester United are just a minute away from a big three points in the race for Champions League football.
However, they are going to have to defend a late free-kick after a handball from Mount. This will be Chelsea’s final chance to find an equaliser.
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Mount is booked for kicking the ball away after Fernandes gave away a free-kick. The home fans took some joy in that yellow card, even though their side are heading for another damaging defeat.
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There will be four added minutes. Chelsea do not have much time to find an equaliser.
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Manchester United are edging towards what would be a huge three points in the race for Champions League football. They would go 10 points clear of Chelsea with five games left so they would be nearly there in terms of that race.
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Mbeumo is limping off for Manchester United and is replaced by Zirkzee. That looked more like cramp than an injury.
Chelsea also make a change as Lavia replaces Fernandez, who also appeared to be struggling with cramp.
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Caicedo is urged to shoot by the home fans and he obliges. He strikes it really well from outside the box but it goes just wide.
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That is fantastic defending from Mazraoui, who times his slide tackle on Garnacho in the Manchester United penalty area to perfection. Had he got that wrong, it would have been a certain Chelsea penalty.
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So this is interesting. One goal down, Liam Rosenior has brought on two defenders in Chalobah and Acheampong. Fofana and Gusto head off.
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Michael Carrick is going to make his first two changes of the night as Amad and Mount replace Sesko and Cunha. Plenty of boos from the home fans as Mount comes on against his boyhood club.
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Fernandes plays the ball into the path of Mbeumo on the right and Manchester United have a two-on-two. However, Mbeumo fails to take advantage and good defending from Hato on the edge of the Chelsea box ends the danger.
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Pedro Neto looks the most likely player to pull Chelsea back into this game. He has been busy throughout and some of his deliveries from wide have been excellent.
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The pressure is ramping up on Manchester United as they hold onto this one-goal advantage. Chelsea are on top and pushing the visitors back.
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Mazraoui brings down Cucurella just outside the Manchester United box and this is a good shooting position for either Fernandez or Palmer.
It is taken by Palmer who, like Fernandez in the first half, hits the wall.
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Chelsea hit the bar again and it is similar to the last one. Neto again has some space on the right and clips a lovely delivery towards the far post. Fofana wins the header but his effort comes back off the bar. There were some appeals for handball inside the Manchester United box not long before that, which VAR is checking. The potential handball incident is checked and cleared. What the replays actually show is it may have come off Fofana’s arm anyway so it probably would not have counted anyway even if the ball had gone in.
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Fernandes, on the edge of the Chelsea box, looks to pass it to either Casemiro or Cunha in space on the left side of the box. It takes a big deflection off Fofana and that forces Sanchez to scamper across to his left to make a diving save as that was creeping in.
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Gusto clips in a cross from the right first time and picks out Palmer, who volleys first time from 12 yards out but his effort goes wide. Chelsea have had two shots on target in this game, Manchester United one but they made that one count.
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Chelsea have taken control in the past few minutes, putting sustained pressure on the United backline. Delap’s header is a lovely flicked effort and he’s unlucky it didn’t drop in time. The danger for Chelsea is that Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko are all keen to counter, and all three are quick over long distances. When United go, those three will really go.
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There are appeals from the home players and fans for a handball against Mazraoui right around the Manchester United penalty area but those appeals are waved away. VAR confirms that there was no penalty there. It did strike the arm but it was not an intentional handball.
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Chelsea hit the bar! Neto clips in a cross to the far post and picks out Delap, who leaps well to meet it but his header comes back off the bar. It was a good header from Delap and he is unlucky that did not find its way in.
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Caicedo is urged to shoot from range by the home fans and he obliges. He shot takes a deflection off Casemiro and spins behind for a corner. However, Fernandez’s delivery is woeful and cleared away at the front post.
Manchester United counter and it ends with Fernandes shooting from just outside the box but he drags his effort just wide.
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Caicedo spots the run of Cucurella in behind but there is just slightly too much on the ball and it runs through to Lammens.
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We are back under way at Stamford Bridge. Fofana was struggling with a blow to his ribs before the break but he has come back out after half-time.
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The last goal Chelsea scored in the Premier League was on March 4th. They have played almost 350 league minutes without scoring.
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026Bruno Fernandes has provided 18 assists in the Premier League this season 🪄
Only Ozil, De Bruyne and Henry have ever recorded more in a single campaign. pic.twitter.com/tcTstRqptL
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Today:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2
Tottenham 2 Brighton 2
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 HT
Sunday:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Monday:
Crystal Palace vs West Ham 8pm
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Possession: Chelsea 57%-43% Manchester United
Shots: 6-2
Shots on target: 2-1
Corners: 2-0
Touches in opposition box: 12-3
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The first half is brought to an end and Manchester United lead 1-0 at the break courtesy of that Cunha goal. Three points for the visitors would be massive in their hopes of Champions League qualification and would represent a big blow to Chelsea’s chances. Plenty of boos from the home fans as the whistle was blown.
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Before the Cunha goal, this had been a decent half for Chelsea given their recent form, and in spite of the two injuries they have suffered. They lost Estevao Willian, and then Wesley Fofana came off in the moments before the United goal. United have clearly looked at attacking the Chelsea left-back position. Mbeumo had got in behind once and Fernandes was then able to shrug off Garnacho very easily in the build-up to the goal. Lots of space behind the more advanced Cucurella.
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There will be five added minutes.
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A quality assist from Fernandes and a quality first-time finish from Cunha. With just a few minutes remaining in the half, Fernandes gets the better of his former teammate Garnacho down Manchester United’s right and cuts the ball across from the byline. It comes through for Cunha, whose first-time shot from the penalty spot finds the top right corner.
It looked to me like Moises Caicedo was more focused on blocking the run of Benjamin Sesko than actually clearing the cross that allowed Matheus Cunha to score. It’s an ugly goal for Chelsea to concede, starting with Alejandro Garnacho’s poor attempt to stop Bruno Fernandes.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026Manchester Utd make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge through Matheus Cunha 💥
Bruno Fernandes gets his 18th Premier League assist this season in the process!
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/1eKF8RUNm5
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Fofana has now gone down, a couple of minutes after that collision, and is clutching at his ribs. Are Chelsea going to be forced into a second injury-enforced change in this first half? That would also mean the home side would only have one substitution slot remaining. Fofana is now back to his feet, still clutching at his left rib but it appears he is going to try and continue, at least for now.
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Action at both ends. Firstly, Chelsea fail to take advantage of a good cross from Neto on the right which just hits Fernandez inside the six-yard box. Then Manchester United counter and Hato is into the book for a foul on Mbeumo.
Fernandes whips in the delivery and an almighty collision takes place in the Chelsea box. Sanchez punches away but him, Casemiro and Fofana all collide. All are fine.
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The ball is in the Manchester United net but the offside flag has gone up. Fernandez’s shot is saved by Lammens but parried straight into the path of Palmer, who lays it across to Delap to put into the empty net. However, Palmer was offside when Fernandez took his shot so the goal will not stand.
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There is a growing sense of frustration from the home fans that at times their side is playing too slow and not moving forward quickly enough. Already some groans and moans from the Chelsea fans.
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Chelsea could and perhaps should take the lead. Mazraoui loses the ball inside his own box and it is stolen by Fernandez, who looks to curl one into the far corner but it goes inches wide of the far post.
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Fernandez is the one who takes but his effort is blocked by the Manchester United wall.
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Heaven brings down Palmer just outside the Manchester United penalty area. He get away with one earlier on Palmer but this time he does not.
Palmer and Fernandez are standing over this one...
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Garnacho battles for the ball with Dalot right in front of the away fans and, much to their amusement, Dalot gets the better of his former teammate.
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That is a real waste from Cunha. Fernandes plays a lovely first-time ball from inside his own half to pick out the run in behind from Mbeumo down the right channel. Mbeumo drives to the Chelsea box and is unselfish, laying it across to Cunha, who should hit it first time but instead takes a touch. That touch is a dreadful one, far too heavy, and he ends up fouling Hato and gets booked for it.
You know a first touch is bad when it turns a clear goalscoring opportunity into a yellow card. So poor by Cunha.
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Despite Manchester United missing most of their centre-backs, Michael Carrick has still named four attacking players in Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko so Carrick has not decided to play it too safe tonight.
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Neto clips a clever ball into the Manchester United box, looking for Garnacho, who was in space on the right side of the penalty area, but there is probably slightly too much on it and Garnacho cannot hook it back across the box.
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Estevao’s eventful 15 minutes are over; he struck the post before picking up an injury. He is indeed replaced by the former Manchester United man Garnacho, who is booed by the travelling supporters.
The warm-up area for substitutes is directly in front of the United supporters and Alejandro Garnacho was, er, not welcomed warmly as he prepared to come on for Estevao. The United fans were not impressed by the nature of Garnacho’s exit for Chelsea last summer.
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Enjoyable start to this game, with both teams attacking quickly. Chelsea have looked the more dangerous side in the last few minutes, with Palmer and Estevao causing problems. I must say it’s a gorgeous night for football. Perfect conditions. It’s a very visually appealing match, too: red against blue, on floodlit green grass. Lovely.
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Shaw and Manchester United are fortunate. His lapse in concentration gives possession away inside his own half and the ball comes to Delap, who plays a pass into Estevao. However, the Brazilian stumbles at just the wrong moment, which allows the Manchester United defenders to get back, and then his shot is weak.
Estevao then stays down and it appears he may have injured his hamstring. Former Manchester United winger Garnacho is sent out to warm up; he receives a good ovation from the home fans, not so much from the travelling fans.
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Chelsea hit the post. Estevao receives it on the right and moves into the penalty area before cutting inside onto his preferred left foot. The young Brazilian curls one towards the far corner and it clips off the outside of the post.
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Is that a foul? If so, is it a penalty? Palmer runs onto a pass and gets to the ball first ahead of Heaven. No free-kick is given by referee Michael Oliver but it was definitely a foul. Now VAR will take a look to see if the contact was inside the box. It is very close but VAR deems that the contact was outside the box so no penalty was given and, as no free-kick was given in the first place, VAR does not have the power to give one even though on should have been given. Heaven is very lucky.
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That is an important tackle from Heaven, who initially had been beaten by Delap but slides in before the Chelsea striker could get a shot or cross away from the right-side of the box.
Chelsea take a short corner before Palmer sends in a cross but Sesko heads away at the front post.
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A lot of eyes will be on Fernandez, who returns from his two-game club ban and comes straight back into the starting XI. He reunites with Caicedo in the centre of Chelsea’s midfield.
For Manchester United, Mazraoui is alongside Heaven at centre-back. Heaven is their only recognised centre-half available to them tonight and the 19-year-old has a right-back playing alongside him.
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We are under way at Stamford Bridge. This is a huge game in the race for the Champions League, arguably a bigger match for Chelsea as a defeat would be more costly for the hosts, who could be 10 points behind Manchester United with a loss and then potentially seven off Liverpool if they beat Everton tomorrow.
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Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at Stamford Bridge. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, Delap.
Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Chalobah, Tosin, Andrey Santos, Essugo, Lavia, Garnacho, Guiu.
Manchester Utd: Lammens, Dalot, Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Ugarte, Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, Thwaites, Amad, Fletcher, Lacey.
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"If we're not in the Champions League, everything changes."
Cole Palmer discusses his Chelsea future and Liam Rosenior talks Enzo Fernández's return and João Pedro's absence from the Chelsea team to face Manchester Utd 📋
🎙️ @julesbreach
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/tHbBlsE6dY
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"There are fewer options at centre-back... but we can adapt" 🫡
Michael Carrick on Leny Yoro's injury and Manchester Utd's "tunnel vision" mentality ahead of facing Chelsea.
🎙️ @julesbreach
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/OykmMf5TZC
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"There's not enough footballing wisdom within the organisational structure at the club" 💬
Joe Cole gives his opinion on Chelsea's ownership and the protests taking place outside Stamford Bridge.
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/w29DsjDVSn
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I would estimate there were around 500-1000 Chelsea and Strasbourg fans at the protest against the BlueCo owners outside Stamford Bridge. I was also here for a fan protest in January and I can say with confidence that today’s effort was much, much more impressive. Perhaps the involvement of the Strasbourg supporters helped to add some seriousness to the occasion. The French, after all, know how to protest.
Today’s protest is against the BlueCo ownership in general rather than any specific issues. The NotAProjectCFC group say they are shining a light on the “incompetence and mismanagement” of the club, and also the “restrictions imposed by multi‑club ownership, where clubs like RC Strasbourg are being stripped of their identities”.
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If he likes Madrid so much, or anywhere else for that matter, then let him go. Fernandez is a good player, but he is certainly not irreplaceable and he is not an effective leader. The problem Chelsea have is that they overpaid by spending £106.8m on him and it is highly questionable whether any club could, or would, offer a deal that would prevent Chelsea from making a loss on the books. Banning Fernandez for two games was slightly strange, but selling him would send a strong message that no player is bigger than the club. Giving in to his contract demands would be utter lunacy.
The Frenchman can be a Rolls Royce of a defender, but far too often he is more akin to a (not very reliable) Reliant Robin. If he is not injured, Fofana can be prone to switching off and his performances this season have been as extreme as his driving, which has resulted in him amassing 50 points on his licence – two more than Chelsea have managed in the Premier League so far this season. Without Trevoh Chalobah next to him, Fofana has been the mainstay of a central defence that has conceded seven goals in three successive League defeats by Newcastle United, Everton and Manchester City.
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Manchester United 1 Leeds 2
Bournemouth 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 1
Newcastle 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 1
Manchester United have dropped points in three of their last four league games but they could take a huge step towards Champions League qualification tonight. With a win this evening, they would move 10 points clear of Chelsea and, with five games remaining,
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Chelsea 0 Manchester City 3 (Premier League)
Chelsea 7 Port Vale 0 (FA Cup)
Everton 3 Chelsea 0 (Premier League)
Chelsea 0 PSG 3 (Champions League)
Chelsea 0 Newcastle 1 (Premier League)
Chelsea’s form of late has not been good at all, with their only win in their last five in all competitions being at home against Port Vale in the FA Cup. They start the day in sixth, four points behind Liverpool, who occupy the final of five Champions League places.
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“I am so happy to have extended my contract at Chelsea,” Caicedo said. “I believe in this team, this club and I know we are going in the right direction. We have only just begun together. There is still a lot more to achieve, and I am very hungry to keep improving every day. I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and give everything for this club and for the fans. We have enjoyed some great times together already and my dream is to become a Chelsea legend, and I will work as hard as possible to make that happen.”
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Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, Delap.
Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Chalobah, Tosin, Andrey Santos, Essugo, Lavia, Garnacho, Guiu.
Manchester Utd: Lammens, Dalot, Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Ugarte, Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, Thwaites, Amad, Fletcher, Lacey.
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026"It's hard to imagine Chelsea not in the Champions League places." 😱
🗣️ Joe Cole, Owen Hargreaves and Ally McCoist preview a huge clash at Stamford Bridge 👊
📺 Chelsea vs Man Utd, 7pm, TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/wbRfpnh35s
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🔴🥊 In the red corner at Stamford Bridge...
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 18, 2026
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Today:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2
Tottenham 1 Brighton 1 (48’)
Chelsea vs Manchester United 8pm
Sunday:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Monday:
Crystal Palace vs West Ham 8pm
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It is sixth versus third at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Manchester United, with the race for the Champions League places hotting up. Manchester United won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Old Trafford back in September, with Chelsea spending most of the game down to 10 men after Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card. If Manchester United were to win tonight, they would complete a league double over Chelsea for just the second time after the 2019/20 campaign. Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 home league meetings with Manchester United.
Chelsea lost 3-0 at home against Manchester City last weekend. Chelsea have just one Premier league win in their last seven games and go into tonight’s game four points behind Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League place in fifth.
“That is the great thing about the quality we have in this team,” Liam Rosenior said. “We are capable of a run, but capability is one thing and producing it is another. Time is running out, so we need to be as close to perfect as possible in every aspect of the game. If we do that, we have the potential to win every game for the rest of the season.
“When the team was its best with players like John [Terry], Frank [Lampard], Didier [Drogba], it was a team of big personalities fighting for the shirt, not a team of egos. I feel we have those kinds of characters in our squad, and that is what we need to show in this moment.”
Enzo Fernandez has been suspended for their last two games but is back available for selection tonight, although it remains to be seen in what capacity.
Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Leeds last Monday but remain in third, level on points with Aston Villa, three points ahead of Liverpool and seven ahead of Chelsea.
“It is an important game,” Michael Carrick said. “We are in a good position in the league and we want to keep building on that. It is a tough place to go, always has been. We have had some tough games down there. Most of the time they have been good games in terms of what it brings. It has the feelings of a real, proper game so we will be ready for that. We have prepared well and take the confidence from what we have built. We did not get the result we wanted against Leeds but the character that we showed we have to take into this game with an extra player and make the most of it.”
Manchester United will be without centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez for the trip to Stamford Bridge due to suspension. Maguire was given an extra game ban for improper conduct following his red card against Bournemouth whilst Martinez was sent off against Leeds. They could have a real centre-back problem tonight with Matthijs de Ligt still out injured and Leny Yoro set to miss out. Kobbie Mainoo though could be fit to return having missed the loss to Leeds.
Team news to follow shortly.
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