There is some irony in that Chelsea are the only side to have made Manchester United look good in recent games amid national media speculation Graham Potter could replace Erik ten Hag in the top job at Old Trafford.
However, that mooted appointment comes with a clear warning for Sir Jim Ratcliffe. United have not been at the races this season.
Far from it, in fact. They were dumped out of Europe in midweek and remain some way off the pace when it comes to fading Premier League ambitions, too, even though Ten Hag watched his Jekyll and Hyde team carve Potter's old employers apart without putting them to the sword during a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford less than 10 days ago. ALSO READ: Keane has already made his feelings on Potter known ALSO READ: Owen names score United might settle for vs Liverpool In the week-and-a-half that followed, though, United were humbled by Bournemouth and sentenced to a season without the tongue-in-cheek luxury that is Thursday night football.
United were not even good enough to claim a place in the supplementary Europa League and they have, arguably, gone backwards this season.