Chelsea draw up to Old Trafford without a centre-forward but with a gameplan; they execute it perfectly. Jose Mourinho’s side defend stoutly to restrict United to scraps as Gameweek 2’s headline fixture falls flat.
The Game Changer
We were screaming out for a match winner to emerge, only to be left disappointed. Chelsea set out to stifle and frustrate United and succeeded in keeping them at arms length. Robin van Persie was starved of opportunities, Wayne Rooney, back in the United lineup, was restricted to long-range efforts. In an encounter billed as the first true heavyweight clash of the season, we were treated to a disjointed match, littered with misplaced passes and bereft of goalscoring opportunities. That won’t trouble Jose Mourinho and his determined defence.
The Underused
Rooney’s performance underlined what he brings to United. Strength, energy, craft and a goal threat – he will surely be a major player for Moyes, if, as expected he now remains at the club. Owned by under 2% of Fantasy Premier League managers, there’s no doubt that he has the potential to be a huge differential should he cement his start under Moyes and begin to show the form he demonstrated for periods of last season.
The Selection Poser
Rooney’s return to the fray will immediately pose questions over Danny Welbeck’s appeal. Having notched a brace at the Liberty Stadium, Welbeck has attracted big investment with over 90,000 having their head turned by the potential of United attacking player for 7.5. While Welbeck partnered Van Persie in a central role for much of tonight’s game, with so many options on the flanks and Shinji Kagawa to introduce, should he stay, Rooney would seem destined to tuck back inside on a permanent basis to renew his partnership with Van Persie.
The Dutchman’s owners will also be fidgeting at the prospect of Rooney’s return. Tonight’s blank would have come as a major frustration for those who handed Van Persie the armband and now, the prospect of Rooney emerging as a clear alternative in United’s attack will pose familiar questions.
A player of Rooney’s talent, offering coverage of United’s potential for goals, for 3.5 less – it’s a scenario that has to be considered by those with and without Van Persie. However, with so much to be decided in the transfer market in the next week and potential movement in and out of Old Trafford, the landscape could yet change once again.
