Chelsea remained in contention for a UEFA Champions League spot next season following a hard-fought 1–0 Premier League victory over Manchester United on Friday, thanks to a second-half goal from Marc Cucurella at Stamford Bridge, London.
Captain Reece James struck the post with a powerful effort in the first half, shortly after United defender Harry Maguire found the net, only for VAR to rule the goal marginally offside.
In the second half, Spanish full-back Cucurella nodded home from close range in the 71st minute, converting a well-placed cross from James, who had outwitted the United defence with a deft turn and burst of pace.
Manchester United created a few opportunities, while Chelsea remained largely dominant, albeit visibly tense throughout the encounter.
The result moved Chelsea up to fourth in the Premier League table, overtaking Aston Villa, who had earlier defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–0, with both teams having one fixture remaining.
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“I knew I had space and time, and I delivered the ball into a good area this guy is always arriving,” James said after the match, standing beside Cucurella.
“The Champions League is where this club belongs, competing among the best.”
The top five teams in the table qualify for next season’s Champions League a target Chelsea have pursued since Enzo Maresca took charge at the start of the campaign.
The match marked Chelsea’s final home game of the season. With inconsistent form under the Italian manager, the players completed a lap of honour before exiting the pitch. They will round off their campaign away to seventh-placed Nottingham Forest also chasing European qualification next weekend.
