Manchester United share points for the third game in a row while Chelsea gave a rout to Stoke.
Chelsea will the end of year 2017 at the second place behind Manchester City. The Blues destroyed Stoke City 5-0 and won four of the last five games and have the second best defense in the Premier League only two goals behind Manchester City.
On the other hand, Manchester United have shared point isn their last three games including two at home. The draw 0-0 against Southampton was painful to watch and the Saints defense frustrated uninspired United’s forwards. Worse than that, Lukaku left off the pitch with the head injury and could be out for a few days or weeks.
Coach United Mourinho on the frustrating evening
“Craig Pawson is a fantastic referee, one of the most promising referees in Europe, and it was bad for him. It was one of the key points. The other key points were easy goals that we missed. Another key point was David De Gea’s save on the Shane Long shot. But the clear, clear point, especially with a result at 0-0, is a clear penalty that was not given. I watched on the touchline and it looked to me very clear, but it’s 50 metres distance, so I gave the referee the benefit of the doubt. I know my players and, when I see players like Juan Mata almost in hysterics claiming, I could understand immediately – no doubt. And then, at half-time, I watch it and it is a penalty like Marcus Rashford at Leicester was a penalty, like Ander Herrera against Manchester City was a penalty and it is unlucky because honestly I told you that and I repeat without a problem, that the three referee performances, Michael Oliver against City, Jon Moss against Leicester and Craig tonight were good referees with good performances, but unlucky decisions for us that punished us.
I am happy with the players’ attitudes and desires. I have no complaint about my players. I think the performance was a big-hearted performance with the players giving everything due to their limits. The majority of them, with the accumulation of matches, their performance was with very good quality on creation, where we have missed chances and half-chances with crosses and balls in the face of the goal. They are half-chances if you arrive on time.”
Coach Chelsea, Conte praises his team:
‘I think our performance was very positive, we started the game very well with great desire to score early because, as I’ve said before, in this type of game if you score early it can become easier because your opponent has to change their plan. We started very well and we wanted that. I’m very pleased with the performance of all my players and to finish with another clean sheet. We are showing good solidity.
‘We have to continue to work very hard to improve but to finish this year in this way is great for me, the club and the fans. It was a fantastic year for us because to win the title in England is not simple. To be able to do this with your first chance, I will remember this year forever.
We know we have to face five months which will be very tough because we have to fight for a place in the Champions League and it won’t be easy to reach this target. Man City have created a big gap between themselves and the other teams. I don’t know what will happen but we have to try to get three points in every game, to put some pressure on the teams above us.’
