What could have been a third consecutive Premier League defeat to equal a club record was instead Ralf Rangnick’s first point against a top-four opponent since taking interim charge of Manchester United. Yet on a night when fresh questions emerged over Rangnick’s level of involvement in next season’s cultural reset, United relied upon the same old foundations that predated his arrival: David de Gea’s saves and a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chelsea should treat this as two points dropped given that they were vastly superior to their hosts until Marcos Alonso’s volley on the hour mark gave them a lead that they almost immediately surrendered. Thomas Tuchel will be disappointed not to have moved a step closer to securing a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League, but that will surely come sooner or later.
