Chelsea haven't beaten Man Utd at Stamford Bridge since 2017

Chelsea and Manchester United bring the Premier League midweek fixture to a close on Thursday with a once high-stakes game reduced to just another interesting clash after both clubs have slumped in recent years. Not so long ago, the Blues and Red Devils would have been preparing for a crucial game in the title race, but now the Londoners and Mancunians are more concerned with securing their presence in Europe in 2024-25 than anything else.

For the Stamford Bridge outfit, the fixture presents another opportunity to overcome Manchester United at home, something Chelsea have not achieved since November 5th, 2017, during Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho's time in charge of the Blues and Red Devils. Alvaro Morata, who has come a long way since then, was the striker for the London side, who won thanks to a goal from the Madrid native (1-0).

Names such as Courtois, Christensen, Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, now in Spanish football, were in the Italian coach's starting line-up, which was completed by Cahill, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Cesc, Kante and Hazard. Also playing that day were Rudiger, Drinkwater and Willian, none of them present in this 2023-24 in a team that has since forgotten how to beat Manchester United at home.

At home, Chelsea's next meeting with Manchester United came on 20th October 2018, with Maurizio Sarri in charge of the Londoners, who were held to a 2-2 draw by a United side still managed by Mourinho. Rudiger gave the hosts the lead, but Martial turned the scoreline around in the second half. In the 96th minute, substitute Ross Barkley rescued a point for the Blues.

 

April 4, 2024

A few months later, also in 2018-19, the two teams met in the last 16 of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United, despite not having the ball, were the team that made the most of their chances. With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the bench, the Red Devils conquered the Blue's home ground and reached the next round with a 2-0 win thanks to Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba's goals.

That cup clash was the last for Maurizio Sarri, who was replaced by Frank Lampard at the end of the campaign. The former England player managed Chelsea twice against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The first, in the 2019-20 EFL Cup, the Red Devils won 2-1 with a brace from Rashford that cancelled out Batshuayi's momentary equaliser. In the Premier League, Solskjaer's side won 2-0 with goals from Martial and Maguire.

Despite leading the team to their second Champions League, Thomas Tuchel was also unable to beat Manchester United at home in his time in charge of Chelsea. On 28th February 2021, the two sides played out a goalless draw and on 28th November of the same year, in the 2021-22 season, it was a 1-1 draw with goals from Jadon Sancho and Jorginho.

Graham Potter is until that match the last manager to have coached the Blues against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The result was also 1-1 under the English coach. Chelsea took the lead with a Jorginho penalty in the 87th minute and dreamed of a victory that Casemiro prevented with another goal in the 94th minute.