Chelsea hold their ‘billion-pound’ bottle to keep Champions League destiny in own hands | OneFootball

Chelsea’s destiny was slipping from their grasp. They sat in sixth, the time ticking away, the verdicts that, once again, they were blue billion-pound bottle jobs growing nearer. Until the man who was one of the first of their £1.2bn spending spree, who, for a while, had looked one of the worst of them, intervened. Marc Cucurella’s goal means Chelsea are one win away, even if that one game is away at Nottingham Forest, who harbour similar aspirations of a berth in the Champions League.

Chelsea may yet face Manchester United there. Clubs who met in the 2008 Champions League final were watched by Todd Boehly and Jim Ratcliffe, seemingly studies in unsuccessful ownership. And yet their playthings appear too big to fail completely, their resources such that they can afford many a mistake and yet still end up among the European elite, nevertheless delivered a compelling contest. There was jeopardy only for Chelsea, as Aston Villa overcame Tottenham, their hopes seemed to be receding, their diaries for the 2025-26 season having Thursday night action pencilled again.

Until Cucurella turned match-winner, to the particular relief, in all probability, of two spectators: Boehly, whose vast outlay is yet to bring a footballing return, and Nicolas Jackson, who jeopardised it further with his reckless red card at Newcastle. So Chelsea lacked a senior specialist striker. But then, since the middle of December, Cucurella has outscored Jackson anyway. A talismanic figure is also a diminutive one, but the small Spaniard delivered the kind of header that many a centre-forward built a career upon. United were condemned to a defeat; another one, but one of their more creditable. A side with little to play for other than the considerable carrot of Europa League final places provided resistance and resilience. It was a further illustration that some of their better displays under Ruben Amorim can come away from home against the elite, when they are allowed to defend deeper and have less onus to make the running.

That responsibility instead lay with Chelsea. It is worth noting this was their eighth win in nine league matches at Stamford Bridge, even if that record is marred by a draw with Ipswich.

On a night when Chelsea were short of forwards, with Jackson suspended, Christopher Nkunku injured, Jadon Sancho ineligible, Mykhailo Mudryk in limbo and Joao Felix in Milan, the answer instead came in the form of full-backs.

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Marc Cucurella (left) won it as the defenders came up trumps for Chelsea once again (PA Wire)

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Reece James delivered a superb cross to set up Cucurella, capping off an influential display (Getty Images)

Defenders proved the best form of attack. Reece James chipped a cross to the far post, Cucurella timed his run to head in his seventh goal in little over five months emphatically. Enzo Maresca’s decision to recall his skipper was justified. James had provided the shot of the game, leaving the post reverberating as a swerving drive was struck with supreme technique.

A Euro 2024 champion and the captain assumed responsibility. They eased the huge burden on an untried rookie. Tyrique George’s first Premier League start came as the main striker. The teenager completed more passes to referee Chris Kavanagh than his teammates in the hour. He did at least manage to run on to Cole Palmer’s pass: he was initially awarded a penalty for Andre Onana’s challenge. Sent to the monitor, Kavanagh overturned his initial decision, ruling the goalkeeper had got that ball. That apart, the unfortunate George felt a passenger.

But it was a night when the emotions altered as decisions were first made and then revoked. Harry Maguire seemed to put United ahead; but the foot that volleyed in Bruno Fernandes’ cross had been fractionally offside.

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Many of Chelsea’s better moments revolved around boyhood United fan Cole Palmer (Getty Images)

For Chelsea, many of the better moments revolved around a boyhood United fan. Palmer provided defence-splitting passes when Noni Madueke blazed a shot over and placed one wide. He had the effort Onana parried unconvincingly. His creativity led to the penalty that wasn’t.

For United, Mason Mount, booed by the Chelsea fans who used to celebrate him, shot wide after a dart from Amad Diallo. They were twinned as the No 10s, the Ivorian bringing a verve on the break, and indicating they could occupy the same roles in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Amorim had named a stronger side than many expected, giving his charges the chance to play themselves in or out of their final side. More probably emerged in credit. But Chelsea may have rued his selection as United were competitive enough to accumulate six cautions and while Tottenham fielded a rather weaker team. The goals that Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara scored temporarily took them up to fourth place. Until Cucurella leapt to send Chelsea soaring above them. The Champions League beckons for the club who used to take their presence in it for granted.