Jose Mourinho United has suffered this season against the club where he was a three-time champion, losing 4-0 in the league at Chelsea and also going out of the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's lead at the top of the EPL table now stands at four points and the title race is wide open again after they were well beaten by Manchester United.
The Blues looked to be walking to the title just a few weeks ago - but a sudden stumble, including the home defeat by struggling Crystal Palace, and an irresistible surge from Spurs have brought renewed edge to the run-in.
Mourinho was not to be deprived of victory this time as Marcus Rashford, paired with Jesse Lingard up front while a jaded Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rested, finished coolly after seven minutes and Ander Herrera - detailed to do a brilliant man-marking job on Eden Hazard - saw his shot deflected in off Kurt Zouma four minutes after the break.
Zouma was a late replacement for Marcos Alonso, who pulled out in the warm-up, but Chelsea can offer no excuses here as they were second best throughout.
Tottenham now trail Chelsea by four points with six games to go and also with a superior goal difference.
Jose Mourinho's starting line-up elevated eyebrows, with Ibrahimovic on the bench and Anthony Martial nowhere to be seen - but the end result, and the manner of United's victory, established just how brilliantly he had set up his team.
With Ibrahimovic out, the pace and movement of Rashford and Lingard offered the sort of threat that troubled Chelsea instantly. Rashford had missed one good chance before coolly directing a finish past Begovic early on.
The actual masterstroke, however, was his decision to deploy Herrera as Hazard's shadow throughout. The Belgian playmaker was totally snuffed out by Herrera, who covered his every move and forced him to the margins on a miserable afternoon for Chelsea.
To finally make Mourinho's day complete, it was Herrera who escaped Hazard's attentions to find space in the area and send the deflected shot high into the net for the home side's crucial second goal.
Though Chelsea are still in a strong position but they are now feeling the hot breath of Spurs on their neck after Pochettino's team made it seven successive league wins for the first time in fifty years. Spurs truly have momentum - but Chelsea still have a four-point lead, which counts for a lot with only six games to go.
Their run-in also looks a little nicer, with home games against Southampton, Middlesbrough, Watford and Sunderland - but a real test to come at Everton. Still anything can happen.
The pressure, however, is now practical and there may be twists left in this race. Spurs will feel renewed hope.
Th e game was a bitterly disappointing display by Conte's side but it was only their fifth league defeat of the season.
These are the managers reactions after the game to Match of the day.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "It was the same plan that was working with 11 players in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. They are the best counter-attacking team in the country and we controlled them very well.
"I'm really happy with the boys. I'm happy - it's not because it's Chelsea, it's because we need these three points.
"I don't feel extra joy at beating Chelsea - we beat the leader. It doesn't matter if the leader is Chelsea or another - we beat them convincingly. Nobody can doubt our credit to win the game."
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: "Manchester United deserved to win because they showed more desire, more motivation, more ambition to win this game.
"It is simple. The fault is mine, because this type of situation the fault is the coach. I wasn't able to transfer the right concentration, the right motivation.
"This league is not closed. Tottenham are on great form and playing with great enthusiasm, but we are playing a great season and we must try to reach this target.
"We started as underdogs and it won't be easy."
Chelsea's lead at the top of the EPL table now stands at four points and the title race is wide open again after they were well beaten by Manchester United.
The Blues looked to be walking to the title just a few weeks ago - but a sudden stumble, including the home defeat by struggling Crystal Palace, and an irresistible surge from Spurs have brought renewed edge to the run-in.
Mourinho was not to be deprived of victory this time as Marcus Rashford, paired with Jesse Lingard up front while a jaded Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rested, finished coolly after seven minutes and Ander Herrera - detailed to do a brilliant man-marking job on Eden Hazard - saw his shot deflected in off Kurt Zouma four minutes after the break.
Zouma was a late replacement for Marcos Alonso, who pulled out in the warm-up, but Chelsea can offer no excuses here as they were second best throughout.
Tottenham now trail Chelsea by four points with six games to go and also with a superior goal difference.
Jose Mourinho's starting line-up elevated eyebrows, with Ibrahimovic on the bench and Anthony Martial nowhere to be seen - but the end result, and the manner of United's victory, established just how brilliantly he had set up his team.
With Ibrahimovic out, the pace and movement of Rashford and Lingard offered the sort of threat that troubled Chelsea instantly. Rashford had missed one good chance before coolly directing a finish past Begovic early on.
The actual masterstroke, however, was his decision to deploy Herrera as Hazard's shadow throughout. The Belgian playmaker was totally snuffed out by Herrera, who covered his every move and forced him to the margins on a miserable afternoon for Chelsea.
To finally make Mourinho's day complete, it was Herrera who escaped Hazard's attentions to find space in the area and send the deflected shot high into the net for the home side's crucial second goal.
Though Chelsea are still in a strong position but they are now feeling the hot breath of Spurs on their neck after Pochettino's team made it seven successive league wins for the first time in fifty years. Spurs truly have momentum - but Chelsea still have a four-point lead, which counts for a lot with only six games to go.
Their run-in also looks a little nicer, with home games against Southampton, Middlesbrough, Watford and Sunderland - but a real test to come at Everton. Still anything can happen.
The pressure, however, is now practical and there may be twists left in this race. Spurs will feel renewed hope.
Th e game was a bitterly disappointing display by Conte's side but it was only their fifth league defeat of the season.
These are the managers reactions after the game to Match of the day.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho: "It was the same plan that was working with 11 players in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. They are the best counter-attacking team in the country and we controlled them very well.
"I'm really happy with the boys. I'm happy - it's not because it's Chelsea, it's because we need these three points.
"I don't feel extra joy at beating Chelsea - we beat the leader. It doesn't matter if the leader is Chelsea or another - we beat them convincingly. Nobody can doubt our credit to win the game."
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: "Manchester United deserved to win because they showed more desire, more motivation, more ambition to win this game.
"It is simple. The fault is mine, because this type of situation the fault is the coach. I wasn't able to transfer the right concentration, the right motivation.
"This league is not closed. Tottenham are on great form and playing with great enthusiasm, but we are playing a great season and we must try to reach this target.
"We started as underdogs and it won't be easy."
Man Utd 2-0 Chelsea: Conte admits Man Utd showed more desire and ambition
Reviewed by Unknown
on
April 16, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
April 16, 2017
Rating:
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