A Night to Forget for De Gea as Chelsea Capitalize on United’s Defensive Woes
The FA Cup semifinal at Wembley delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing from Chelsea, who exposed Manchester United’s defensive frailties in a comprehensive 3-1 victory. Krikya analysts were particularly struck by the contrast between Chelsea’s organized backline and United’s error-prone defense, with David de Gea’s nightmare performance becoming the defining narrative of the match.
Manchester United Player Ratings: Defensive Collapse Analyzed
Goalkeeping Disaster Class
David de Gea (3/10) produced one of his worst performances in a United shirt. The Spanish goalkeeper’s hesitation and poor positioning allowed Olivier Giroud’s flick to squirm past him for the opener, before completely misjudging Mason Mount’s long-range effort. Former United goalkeeper coach Eric Steele told Krikya: “De Gea’s fundamentals have deteriorated – his footwork was all wrong and he’s not getting his body behind shots anymore.”
Defensive Fragility Exposed
The backline struggled throughout:
- Eric Bailly (5/10) was stretchered off after a nasty head collision
- Harry Maguire (5/10) failed to organize his defense effectively
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (4/10) was repeatedly caught out of position
Eric Bailly’s injury compounded United’s defensive problems at Wembley
Chelsea’s Tactical Masterstroke
Frank Lampard’s side executed their gameplan to perfection, with several standout performers:
Defensive Rock Solidarity
The center-back pairing of Antonio Rüdiger (9/10) and Kurt Zouma (9/10) completely nullified United’s attack. Their physical dominance and intelligent positioning limited Marcus Rashford to just one half-chance all game.
Midfield Control
Jorginho (9/10) dictated tempo with 94% pass accuracy, while Mateo Kovačić (8/10) covered more ground than any other player (11.3km). Football statistician Sarah Green noted to Krikya: “Chelsea‘s midfield three created numerical superiority in central areas, preventing Fernandes from finding space.”
Clinical Finishing
Olivier Giroud (9/10) continued his excellent FA Cup record with a clever near-post finish, taking his tally to 16 goals in the competition since 2012 – more than any other player in that period.
Key Tactical Takeaways
- Chelsea’s Pressing Trap: The Blues forced United into 15 turnovers in dangerous areas by cutting passing lanes to Fernandes
- Wing-back Dominance: Reece James (8/10) and Marcos Alonso (7/10) provided width while neutralizing United’s counters
- Set-piece Vulnerability: United conceded from their 15th set-piece this season, highlighting an ongoing weakness
What This Means for Both Clubs
For Chelsea, this victory reinforces their progress under Lampard and sets up a potential double (FA Cup and Top 4 finish). United’s defeat raises serious questions about:
- De Gea’s long-term future as number one
- Defensive reinforcements needed this summer
- Squad depth beyond their first-choice attackers
As Krikya head of analysis Mark Thompson concluded: “This was a reality check for United – their defensive issues remain unresolved, while Chelsea showed they can beat top sides when executing their gameplan perfectly.” The Blues will face Arsenal in an all-London final on August 1st.
