Lisandro Martínez was sent off as Manchester United slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, a result that deepens the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick.
The loss extends United’s winless run to nine games in all competitions, their longest since 1984, and leaves them one point above the relegation zone. Chelsea, meanwhile, moved above Liverpool into fourth.
Martínez, making only his second start since criticising the club’s hierarchy, was shown a second yellow card for raising an arm to the face of Wesley Fofana inside the United box, after a VAR check. He had been booked only three minutes earlier for fouling Morgan Rogers. Cole Palmer converted the resulting penalty in the 64th minute, doubling Chelsea’s lead.
The hosts had already taken the lead early in the second half. Rogers charged through United’s static defence and lifted a delicate finish over Senne Lammens in the 50th minute.
Second-half collapse
United’s second-half implosion piles further pressure on Carrick, who had reinstated Bruno Fernandes after dropping the captain for criticising his tactics following the defeat to Como. Fernandes was an unused substitute in the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, but his return appeared to lift United in the first half.
The visitors failed to take their chances. Fernandes missed the best of them, firing harmlessly over when unmarked from a Bryan Mbeumo centre. Amad Diallo was also twice denied by Mike Penders as Chelsea struggled to contain United’s counter-attacks. United were made to pay for their wastefulness just five minutes after the interval.
The scoreline could have been worse for United. Estevão had a third goal ruled out for offside by VAR and then drew a full-stretch save from Lammens.
Martínez’s moment of madness
Martínez had criticised technical director Jason Wilcox and the club’s decision-makers in an outspoken interview after the Atlético Madrid game. On Sunday, however, he had only himself to blame for the events that led to his dismissal and Chelsea’s penalty. Referee Peter Bankes showed him a second yellow barely three minutes after the first.
The defender, starting for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Leeds, was also among the players at fault for Chelsea’s opener, when Rogers glided through United’s defence with bewildering ease.
Carrick did not acknowledge Martínez as he trudged down the tunnel. He did not criticise the defender after the game, though he acknowledged that the double blow of the red card and conceding a penalty was a “big moment” in the match.
Carrick: We let the game unravel
Speaking after the match, Carrick said: “We didn’t get going second half. We should’ve been up in the first half. Everything was as positive as we could’ve hoped for. We looked really dangerous.”
He added: “We found a way of unravelling in the second half. Bad goal to concede and then the penalty, we’re right up against it. The game turned on its head.”
Carrick also said: “I don’t think our heads dropped. The boys were in a good place first half. You could see that with the performance in the first half. It just gave them a lift. We didn’t start the second half great. They struck the first blow and that made the difference.”
United’s horror run
Manchester United are winless in their last nine games in all competitions (D3 L6). They last had a longer run in September 1984, when they went 10 games without a win.
United have failed to win any of their first seven away games in all competitions in a season for the first time since 1973/74, the last time they were relegated.
United have not kept a single clean sheet in their first nine Premier League games of the season.
Alonso: We took a step forward
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said: “We are happy. The game had different moments. The first half was close; few chances for both teams.”
He continued: “At half-time we spoke about keeping control and said we will win the game if we keep the ball. It was a mature performance. I am very demanding. We can do better. We are taking a step forward but I don’t know how far we are. My expectations are really high. I am sure for the last three months of the season we will be much better.”
On Estevão, Alonso said: “Estevão did really well. I am happy for him. He deserved this chance and the opportunity to give back. Absolutely, [his performance] has given him more reasons to say, ‘Coach I want to play more minutes’.”
Chelsea’s improving defence
Chelsea won a Premier League home game without conceding for the first time in 13 matches, since a 2-0 victory against Brentford in January. They have kept two clean sheets in their last three Premier League games, one more than in their previous 28 matches in the competition.
Rogers became just the second Premier League player to reach 10 goal involvements in all competitions this season (six goals, four assists), behind only Erling Haaland (13).
Palmer scored his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea in his 105th appearance. That makes him the third-fastest to reach the milestone for the Blues, behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (84) and Diego Costa (85).