Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea: Blues positives and negatives

3. Enzo Maresca’s Tactics and Player Selection.

There are plenty of positives for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, yet some glaring negatives remain. Certain issues, like the problems with Malo Gusto and Robert Sanchez, seem straightforward to address. But others may require a deeper evaluation.

In last Wednesday’s Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle, Maresca made some puzzling choices. Despite having nearly a full squad available (with only Jadon Sancho absent), he fielded two left-backs in the starting XI. Even as Chelsea fell 2-0 behind, he only made one substitution, introducing Noni Madueke, who immediately made an impact. Despite Madueke’s visible influence, Maresca opted against further changes, missing an opportunity to build on the momentum.

On Sunday, players rested midweek returned but seemed to lack freshness or urgency, adopting a more cautious approach that felt unusual for a Maresca-led Chelsea side. The Blues seemed to approach Old Trafford with an excessive level of respect, playing not to lose—even as other teams, including those in the bottom half of the table, now go there to win. Teams like Crystal Palace and Brentford have claimed victories at Old Trafford in recent years. However, Chelsea still approached the fixture with a cautious mindset.

Defensively, the decision to invert a fullback exposed spaces in the backline, leaving three defenders to contend with United's long balls and speedy attackers. United exploited this setup repeatedly, creating chances and putting Chelsea’s defense under pressure. Yet Maresca resisted making tactical adjustments to regain control. Players like Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix remained on the bench despite having substitutions available.

Chelsea recorded 12 shots but only managed three on target and created a single big chance. United’s current league position at 13th suggests Chelsea could have approached the game more assertively, rather than showing an undue level of caution. This match was a golden opportunity for Chelsea to move up to third place, but they now sit fourth, tied on points with two other teams, including Arsenal, whom they face next. A loss to Arsenal could see Chelsea drop as low as eighth just before the international break.