Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United; United fail to score in 6 consecutive "big six" fixture amid controversial handball decision

 

This was not given a handball after VAR Check

After Manchester City earned a hard fought win against West Ham United on Saturday and Leicester City slipping up against Arsenal earlier, it was a chance for Manchester United to get a grip on the second position by beating Chelsea and once again cutting the gap down to 10 points behind Leaders Man City. Chelsea on the other hand a chance to regain entry into the top four and replace West Ham United on fourth.

Both came into this match with full of confidence as Chelsea claimed and impressive victory against La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid. Whereas Manchester United had already sealed the tie with a 4-0 away win to another Spanish outfit Real Sociedad. The second leg ended 0-0 between them as United were safely through to the Round of 16.

The two most successful sides of the Premier League era went face to face on Sunday. The duo have been crowned Champions a combined 18 times(United 13, Chelsea 5) out of the past 28 seasons. However both of suffered a dip in league in recent times with Chelsea last title coming under Antonio Conte in 2016-17 season whereas United were last the Kings of the land in Sir Alex Ferguson's last season incharge in 2012-13.

For a sixth consecutive game in the "Big Six" fixture, United failed to score a goal as they have now draw a fourth straight game against a big six opposition by a scoreline of 0-0. In fact their only goal in 7 matches this season against Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham came via a second minute penalty against Spurs in that huge 6-1 lose at home on October 4,2020.

The only talking point of the entire game came in the first half when Callum Hudson Odoi looked to have handled the ball while clearing it in the 15th minute. Referee Stuart Attwell went towards the VAR monitor and decided not to award a Penalty clearly to the dismay of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United.

There was a lot of debates from pundits and Experts all around the world at half time over that decision as many thought that should have gone in United's favor. Both teams failed to great anything special in the second half as both settled for a draw.

Solskjaer was clearly unhappy after full time and have blamed the other sides for their influence and rallies against United and that many decisions have come Against them. 

Solskjaer in the post match conference said "It's so clear and nailed on you cannot even fathom why he(Attwell) hasn't given it. What he told our players after doesn't give me belief in the decision making of referees."

"It is all these outside influences, it is cheeky when they put on their website, that's influencing the referees. You can read it."

This was the first time that both games between Chelsea and Manchester United in a league season has ended 0-0 since 1921-22 season around 99 years ago. United are now one point ahead of Leicester on second but now trail their town rivals City by 12 points and they could go 15 behind if they lose at the Etihad in Sunday's derby game against City.