Manchester United booked their Champions League spot with one game to spare thanks to a comfortable win over a dismal Chelsea side at Old Trafford.
Casemiro headed the hosts in front, with Anthony Martial sweeping Jadon Sancho’s pass from close range to double their advantage.
Bruno Fernandes added United’s third from the penalty spot after being fouled by Wesley Fofana.
And another error from Fofana saw Marcus Rashford score a fourth before Joao Felix’s late consolation for the Blues, who suffered their eighth defeat in 10 games under Frank Lampard and their 16th on aggregate in a desperate campaign.
The result meant United relegated former rivals Liverpool to Europa League football next season.
It wasn’t all good news for the home side as Brazilian winger Antony was taken off on a stretcher in tears after sustaining a leg injury in an innocuous challenge with Trevoh Chalobah – with the final of the FA Cup against Manchester City in less than two weeks. .
Manager Erik ten Hag said: “‘I can tell you it’s serious but we have to wait at least 24 hours and then we’ll probably know more about the state of his injury.’
For Chelsea, their dismal season – the worst in nearly two decades – cannot end quickly enough, although their fans have at least retained their sense of humor as they chant ‘we scored a goal’ as they celebrate the Felix effort.
Easy night but work ahead for United
Ten Hag made it clear in his program notes that he wanted the Champions League place secured immediately rather than allowing the situation to drag on to create a tense final against Fulham at the weekend.
It never looked likely they would fail to get the point they needed once Casemiro was cleared to face Christian Eriksen’s free-kick unchallenged in a packed penalty area to give the hosts a sixth lead minute.
The Brazilian midfielder was key to a glorious second for the hosts, when he played a chipped, no-look pass past the Chelsea defense that allowed Sancho to present Martial with a tap -in.
Fernandes took the free kick himself after being fouled in the box 17 minutes from time, having also touched the bar and being denied another penalty request.
Nothing summed up the unfortunate nature of Chelsea’s season better than United’s fourth as, somehow, taking their own goal kick, the visitors presented the ball to Fernandes, who squared for Rashford to finish at the second attempt after Kepa Arrizabalaga held off his initial effort.
By then United were heading for their biggest win of the season and Chelsea their worst defeat.
Felix’s efforts changed that, but the hosts were still the better team.
With the EFL Cup already won, it has arguably been a successful season at Old Trafford, regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final.
However, knowing that a loss to Manchester City at Wembley would leave their rivals two-thirds of the way to winning a treble that only United have already achieved, there is still plenty of work ahead of Ten Hag’s side ahead of the game. end of the season. .
Lampard and Chelsea’s misery continues
Between Martial’s goal and the half-time whistle, the television cameras turned to Lampard, who sat on the bench, silent, arms crossed.
What must have seemed like a gratuitous success when asked to take over from Graham Potter until the end of the season early last month instead cast a big question mark over his future job prospects.
Eight losses in 10 games, with little sign of any semblance of a solution to the riddle of how to shape a team from the theoretically talented squad at its disposal.
At Old Trafford, Lampard named Chelsea’s youngest Premier League side.
It was rewarded with an excellent performance from 18-year-old full-back Lewis Hall, who had been wanted for the Under-20 World Cup in Argentina.
Hall delivered two superb crosses into the box for United. Mykhaylo Mudryk failed to connect with the former. Kai Havertz headed the second wide from central position while unmarked. In the second half, Hall decided to play alone, but David de Gea beat his thunderous drive.
An accurate ball from Enzo Fernandez set up Conor Gallagher, but the England man was equally debauched as he dragged his shot away from the far post.
Chelsea are heading for their worst league result since 1994 and the end of the campaign, and the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, cannot come quickly enough.
If there is a crumb of comfort for Chelsea fans who have continued to support their team despite their current state, it comes from the fact that 12 months ago United were just as chaotic, their own caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick having failed to restore the club’s fortunes following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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