You would struggle to find a better defensive performance anywhere in Europe than that given by Chelsea against Manchester United at the weekend.
The second half was like a training game between defence and attack as Manchester United relentlessly came at The Blues in an attempt to restore parity after Eden Hazard’s opener.
Chelsea were happy to let United have the ball. But the moment they put one foot within shooting distance of the goal, a player in blue would step out and shut the danger down. It was like Manchester United were trying to make a killer punch with their hands tied behind their backs.
In truth United could also have been more decisive in front of goal, with Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao missing excellent opportunities. And the real danger came from a less likely source.
We have always been big fans of Luke Shaw. He has struggled with injury this term but, when he gets into his stride, he is every bit the £30m Manchester United player.
He was more penetrative and caused Chelsea more problems than any other Manchester United player on the day. Time and again he got in behind the defence. The first time he did it, in the opening ten minutes, he put the ball on a plate for Wayne Rooney and the captain should have scored.
On three more occasions during the game he left the opponent for dead and got to the byline. A tad more composure with his final ball and Manchester United would have run out as comfortable winners.
In the end it wasn’t to be for United as Chelsea killed the game in classic Mourinho fashion.
But United’s man of the match, Luke Shaw, will possibly see this as a seminal moment in his career at his new club.
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