A long pass perfectly found Eden Hazard in the frontcourt!
Another great opportunity for a counterattack!
This was indeed a golden chance to strike back!
After Hazard received the ball in the attacking third, there weren't many defenders around him. For most of the match, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young had been tasked with marking him.
However—
The physical fitness of these two Manchester United defenders had clearly started to decline!
So when Hazard controlled the ball—
He went all out!
Without hesitation, Hazard made a powerful acceleration, charging forward with full intensity.
With a sudden burst of speed—
Hazard managed to force a breakthrough, shaking off the interference of the two Manchester United defenders!
Unfortunately—
Just as he was about to take a shot, the defenders had already recovered!
Nemanja Matić rushed in—
Stretching out his left leg just in time to block Hazard's shot!
And with that block—
The final whistle blew, bringing the match between Manchester United and Chelsea to an end.
Final score: 4-4!!
There was no suspense left.
Although the match ended in a draw, this result was far from ideal for Manchester United.
They still trailed Chelsea by six points in the standings.
Meanwhile, Manchester City, Chelsea's closest rival, had taken advantage of this result—narrowing the gap between them and Chelsea.
Now, the difference between Manchester City and Chelsea was just two points.
And with Chelsea set to face Manchester City in the next game, the stakes couldn't be higher.
If Chelsea lost at the Etihad Stadium—then, barring any surprises, Manchester City would overtake them at the top of the table!
After the match—
The fans at Old Trafford were visibly disappointed.
This was not the result they had hoped for.
At the same time—
The physical toll of the match was evident.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea players were completely exhausted, some even collapsing onto the pitch.
Especially Chelsea's squad—
Just days ago, they had engaged in an intense battle against Barcelona in the Champions League.
That grueling match had significantly impacted the stamina of Chelsea's key players.
And tonight—
Cesc Fàbregas, one of Chelsea's midfield maestros, hadn't even started due to fatigue.
Yet, despite the squad rotation—
This clash between Chelsea and Manchester United turned out to be an absolute war.
For Antonio Conte, the challenge was far from over.
In just five days—
Chelsea would travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.
The next match was even more crucial.
Managing the players' fitness levels would now become Conte's biggest concern.
Post-Match Press Conference
At the press conference, Antonio Conte appeared visibly frustrated.
"Manchester United put huge pressure on our defense," Conte admitted. "They are a very strong team. Our players gave their all, but we still conceded goals."
"Although we didn't win, to be honest, a 4-4 draw is still an acceptable result for me."
Later, Manchester United head coach José Mourinho also faced the media.
His tone was filled with resignation.
Speaking to the reporters, Mourinho said:
"Chelsea have had a perfect season so far.
"They've performed brilliantly in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
"To be honest—defeating a team like Chelsea is never an easy task."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 500+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Check out my new Marvel fanfic!
[Marvel: A Video Editor]