Ten Hag on brink of clinching Champions League spot for Man United against Chelsea

Back in October, when Manchester United supporters were still making their minds up about Erik ten Hag’s managerial nous, his suitability for English football and his judgment of players, he took his team to Stamford Bridge and claimed a notable victory in the tactical joust.

The Chelsea manager that day, the tactically admired Graham Potter, was check-mated from kick-off. United, Potter admitted, “were building their attacks too easily, and driving us back.”

Potter owned up to being out-coached with the kind of statement substitution no manager likes to have to make, redrawing his plans after barely half an hour by taking off Marc Cucurella, a defender and the Chelsea footballer Potter had the closest, longest working relationship with.

“We had to get another player in midfield, and put more pressure on them,” Potter explained.

He brought on Mateo Kovacic. Ten Hag later raised Potter again by populating his midfield further with the introduction of Fred. Fittingly, it was a goal from midfield, scored by Casemiro in stoppage time, that did justice to United’s performance by earning a 1-1 draw.

“That’s why we brought Casemiro in,” said Ten Hag, who had pushed for United to pay Real Madrid up to €80 million for the Brazilian, a judgment that has since been clearly vindicated.

That point gained at Chelsea, who had taken the lead late on through a penalty, will be appreciated all the more if United repeat or better it on Thursday evening at Old Trafford.

A draw ensures United finishing in at least fourth place in the final Premier League table, the principal target of the club’s executives and owners when they hired Ten Hag last summer. It means Champions League football next season, a privilege once taken for granted by