Manchester United secured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Chelsea at Old Trafford on September 20, 2025, giving beleaguered manager Ruben Amorim a much-needed respite from mounting criticism. The victory came after a chaotic encounter in which both teams were reduced to 10 men.
The match kicked off with a dramatic turn of events when Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, was sent off in the 5th minute for a reckless challenge on Bryan Mbeumo outside the box, leaving Chelsea to play with a man down for the rest of the game. United quickly capitalized on their advantage, with Bruno Fernandes scoring his 100th goal for the club on his 200th Premier League appearance, putting them ahead in the 14th minute.
Casemiro doubled United’s lead in the 37th minute, but his joy was short-lived. The Brazil midfielder was shown a red card for a second booking in first-half stoppage time, reducing United’s numbers to 10 as well. Despite Chelsea’s late rally, with Trevoh Chalobah’s header in the 80th minute reducing the deficit, United managed to hold on for the win, earning their second victory in six matches this season.
Amorim, who had been under fire following a series of disappointing results, acknowledged the significance of the win. “It is really important to win because I understand the situation around this club,” he said. “Today we won and it is a good day for us.”
The result lifted Manchester United to ninth in the Premier League standings, offering Amorim some breathing space, but the Portuguese coach knows he cannot rest on his laurels. “I have nothing to say to the critics and most of the time they are right,” he added.
The match was not without its share of controversy. Chelsea’s goalkeeper Sanchez, making his Premier League debut for the Blues, was sent off after a rash attempt to clear a ball outside his area. His red card, which denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity to Mbeumo, was widely accepted as the right decision. Jorgensen replaced Sanchez in goal, but Chelsea’s defensive reshuffle failed to stem the tide, with United going 2-0 up shortly after.
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, was forced into a series of early substitutions, including an injury to forward Cole Palmer, which further disrupted their rhythm. Despite Chalobah’s late header, Chelsea’s frustrations boiled over as they slumped to their first defeat of the season.
Amorim’s United had endured a rocky start to the season, including an embarrassing League Cup exit to Grimsby Town and a heavy loss to Manchester City. However, the victory over Chelsea could provide the foundation for a much-needed turnaround as the club looks to regain its footing after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
The win also came at a crucial time for Amorim, who had been facing questions over his tactics and future at the club. The manager, however, remained resolute, sticking to his preferred 3-4-3 formation despite mounting pressure. “Even the Pope could not make me change my tactics,” he joked earlier in the week.
For Chelsea, this defeat represents a major setback, as their unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt halt. With the Blues struggling to adjust after their early red card, manager Maresca will need to rally his squad ahead of their next fixture.
