Chelsea destroy United on Mourinho’s return
Chelsea 4 Manchester United 0
N’Golo Kante’s first goal for Chelsea capped a stunning win over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Pedro capitalised on a defensive aberration to put the Blues ahead after just 30 seconds at Stamford Bridge.
Gary Cahill doubled the lead on 21 minutes, Eden Hazard struck midway through the second half, and midfielder Kante made it four,
It made it a miserable return to the Bridge for Mourinho in his first match against against his former club since the ex-Chelsea boss took over as United manager.
It was also fitting that Chelsea produced such a resounding performance on the day the club marked the 20th anniversary of the death of their late vice-chairman Matthew Harding.
They were given an early gift when Chris Smalling inexplicably failed to deal with Marcos Alonso’s routine ball forward.
Pedro punished him, drifting between the England defender and Daley Blind before rounding keeper David de Gea and scoring into an unguarded net.
And when Hazard’s corner ricocheted into the path of Cahill, the centre-back took full advantage by smashing home from near the edge of the six-yard box.
Thibaut Courtois maintained Chelsea’s two-goal cushion by producing a double save, keeping out Ander Herrera’s shot and then Jesse Lingard’s follow-up.
After Chelsea striker Diego Costa had a goal disallowed for offside early in the second half, keeper Courtois was called into action again when he dived to his left to parry a shot from Lingard.
But United’s hopes of a comeback were crushed when Kante and Nemanja Matic combined to set up Hazard, who calmly steered the ball into the bottom corner of the net – his fourth goal of the season.
Worse followed for Mourinho when Kante collected Pedro’s clever flick, turned inside the hapless Smalling and finished cooly.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Chalobah 70), Costa (Batshuayi 77), Hazard (Willian 78).
Subs not used: Begovic, Aina, Terry, Oscar.
