Manchester United booked their place in the last eight of the FA Cup courtesy of a hugely impressive performance against a limp Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
Blues’ boss Maurizio Sarri was looking for a pressure-easing result against the Red Devils but instead he watched his side struggle against an effervescent United outfit.
The FA Cup holders had started well enough, with Eden Hazard, predictably, a thorn in United’s side.
However, it was Ander Herrera who would open the scoring just after the half-hour mark, with the Spaniard heading home from a Paul Pogba centre.
Chelsea simply couldn’t find a response to that opener, and just before the break, the unhappy home fans watched as Pogba headed past Kepa Arrizabalaga. a ‘keeper who once again failed to live up to his big-money transfer fee.
In the second period, the Blues failed to direct a single shot on target, while United continued to look a threat on the break.
The game would end in a well deserved win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has already won more games in his short tenure as United boss as Jose Mourinho managed this season.
11 – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has now won 11 of his 13 games in charge of Manchester United, one more than Jose Mourinho won with the club in 2018-19 (10/24). Phoenix. #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/pP5S1rPUSR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 18, 2019
As for Sarri, while he certainly needs time and money to fashion a squad in his image, the Chelsea board will surely be considering their options.
This despite a League Cup final against Manchester City to look forward to at the weekend.