Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
1. Van Gaal buys some time
There is no doubt that it was an improved Manchester United performance from the one at Stoke on Boxing Day, particularly in first half.
The United players may have felt aggrieved that they didn’t go in to the half-time interval at least two goals up, after Juan Mata and Anthony Martial hit the bar and post respectively at Old Trafford.
However, it may been a much more positive approach from the Red Devils, but there are still problems that Louis van Gaal needs to repair.
They could have quite easily been on the receiving end of yet another defeat if Nemanja Matic could finish, but signs that the players are still believing in their boss might just give the Dutchman some much needed time to turn things around.
2. Chelsea aren’t out of the woods just yet
Two games and two draws into his second spell as interim manager at Chelsea, Guus Hiddink may have realised he’s in for a tougher time than the one in his first spell.
During his first managerial experience at Stamford Bridge, he won the FA Cup and secured Champions League qualification for Chelsea, but this time he’s trying to pull a severely underachieving squad away from the relegation zone.
And they aren’t out of the woods just yet. Hiddink may have stopped the rot in terms of defeats, but they are still only three points above the bottom three and could have lost yesterday if it weren’t for Thibaut Courtois and the woodwork.
They have a mountain to climb, even though they have a squad full of talent and quality that shouldn’t get relegated. Stranger things have happened though.
3. De Gea and Courtois are a class above
When you checked the score line at full-time and it read 0-0, you probably thought it was a boring match between two boring teams.
In fact, it was far from it, it was an encounter which had plenty of chances for both teams – chances which both sides couldn’t take.
To be fair to the attacking players, they had to try and score past two of the world’s best goalkeepers in David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois; both shot-stoppers pulled off magnificent saves to keep the score board deadlocked.
When you’re struggling for form, having a top class ‘keeper can help you scrape points you probably don’t deserve.
4. Costa’s Chelsea future in doubt?
Speculation continues to stir about Diego Costa’s future at Chelsea, especially after he didn’t play against United yesterday.
The striker was suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Watford last week, but may not even regain his place at all when he returns.
Hiddink started Eden Hazard as the lone centre forward and even praised the Belgian’s quality and threat when he plays through to middle.
Costa has been reported as one of the players who turned against Jose Mourinho, and his future could be back in Spain.
5. Loic Remy should start
Chelsea have struggled for goals this season and with the chances they created yesterday, it is clear they need someone who can finish.
They will probably look elsewhere in the January transfer window, when the truth is they have a prolific goalscorer sat warming their bench.
Loic Remy has proved he can take his chances before and he will do it again. During the 2-1 defeat at Leicester, he scored immediately after coming on as a substitute; just like he has done on several occasions for the Blues.
The Frenchman should really be in the starting eleven for the Blues and they need to realise that before it’s too late and Remy decides to move on.
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