Manchester United booked their place in the Champions League with a game to spare thanks to a comfortable win over a formidable Chelsea side at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes added United’s third after being fouled by Wesley Fofana.

And another Fofana error saw Marcus Rashford score a fourth before Joao Felix scored a late consolation for the Blues, who suffered their eighth defeat in 10 games under Frank Lampard and their 16th of a difficult campaign.

The result resulted in United giving away their former rivals Liverpool to next season’s Europa League.

It wasn’t good news for the Brazilian as Brazilian striker Antony was stretchered off with a tear in his lower leg when he tackled Trevoh Chalobah – in the FA Cup final against Manchester City less than two weeks later. .

For Chelsea, their miserable season – their worst in nearly two decades – can’t end quickly, although their fans have kept their sense of humor as they chanted “we’ve scored a goal” as they celebrated Felix’s effort.

Easy night but prepare for United

United manager Erik ten Hag made it clear in his program that he wants the Champions League places to be secured immediately rather than allowing things to continue to create a disaster against Fulham at the weekend.

It didn’t look like they would fail to get the point they needed when Casemiro was allowed to meet Christian Eriksen’s free-kick unchallenged in a packed area to give the hosts a sixth-minute lead.

The Brazilian was a key part of a moment of glory for the hosts, as he played an out-of-form shot past Chelsea’s defense that allowed Sancho to feed Martial with a header.

Fernandes shot himself after being fouled in the box 17 minutes from time, after hitting the bar again and another appeal denied.

Nothing affected the difficulties of Chelsea’s season more than the fourth at United, otherwise, in taking their goal, the visitors gave the ball to Fernandes, who encouraged Rashford to finish the second attempt after Kepa Arrizabalaga had missed his first effort.

At the time, United were on the verge of their biggest win of the season and Chelsea their worst defeat.

Felix’s effort changed that but the hosts were the better team.

With the EFL Cup already won this has been a successful season at Old Trafford regardless of the FA Cup final.

However, knowing that defeat to Manchester City at Wembley would leave their rivals a third of the way from United’s only previous Treble, there is still plenty of work ahead of the Ten Hag’s side before the end of the season. .

Lampard’s problems with Chelsea continue

In the moments between Martial’s goal and the half-time whistle, the TV cameras went to Lampard, who sat on the bench, silent, his arms crossed.

What should have looked like a free kick when he was asked to take Graham Potter on until the end of the season at the beginning of last month instead answered a big question about his future career.

Eight defeats in 10 games, with no sign of helping to solve the problem of how to build a team out of the talented squad they have.

At Old Trafford, Lampard selected the youngest player in the Premier League for Chelsea.

They were rewarded with an excellent performance from 18-year-old Lewis Hall, who was wanted for England’s Under-20 World Cup in Argentina.

Hall delivered two excellent crosses into the United box. Mykhaylo Mudryk failed to connect with the first. Kai Havertz led off the second half from center field when he was not named. In the second half, Hall decided to go for himself, only for David de Gea to end his thunderous drive.

Enzo Fernandez’s accurate through ball set up Conor Gallagher but the England man was again uncharacteristically handsome as he dragged a shot wide.

Chelsea are approaching their worst finish since 1994 and the end of the campaign, and the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino can’t come soon enough.

If there is any consolation for the Chelsea fans who have continued to support their team despite his presence, it comes from the knowledge that 12 months ago United were again disgraced, their former manager Ralf Rangnick failed to return the club’s chances to follow. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking.

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