Manchester United strengthened their position in third place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win and are banking on Chelsea’s advantage.
Published April 18, 2026
Manchester United took a big step towards ending their two-year banishment from the Champions League as Matheus Cunha scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
United’s victory on Saturday opened a 10-point gap between the Red Devils in third place and Chelsea in sixth place, with 15 points left in the season.
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The top five finishers in the Premier League will qualify for next season’s Champions League.
However, after losing four consecutive league games, Chelsea’s chances of returning to Europe’s elite next season have become hopeless. Pressure will also be on manager Liam Rosenior, who has only been appointed for three months.
Chelsea once again lamented the absence of a clinical striker as they were unable to break down United’s makeshift defence, battered by injuries and suspensions.
United manager Michael Carrick was forced to name a backline that featured three full-backs and 19-year-old Aiden Haven. But they held out to boost the former England midfielder’s claim to get the Old Trafford job at the end of this season.
Chelsea were without top scorer Joao Pedro through injury and former United target Liam Delap was unable to capitalize on his chance to shine up front.
Rosseniol recalled Enzo Fernandes after he was suspended for two games by the Blues for suggesting he was open to a move to Real Madrid this summer.
Fernandes started with a point to prove and came painfully close to taking the lead when he curled inches wide.
United were lackluster as they lost 2-1 to Leeds on Monday, their first game in three-and-a-half weeks.
But Carrick’s side have repaired the damage done to their chances of returning to the Champions League next season.
Cunha opened the scoring with a precise finish two minutes before the break, following Bruno Fernandes’ 18th Premier League assist of the season.
Chelsea improved after the break but were unable to prevent another damaging defeat, leaving doubts about Rosenior’s role heading into next season.
Delap smashed a header into the woodwork, while Nouseir Mazrawi hit his own bar with a dangerous cross under pressure from Wesley Fofana.
Moises Caicedo, who has just signed a new seven-year contract, also came close to grabbing a point for the hosts.
However, when the final whistle rang out, a chorus of boos erupted in the final moments, and the Club World Cup winners looked, at best, resigned to next season’s Europa League football.
