Ruud van Nistelrooy set off down the touchline in celebration, leaping as he punched the air. And yet what threatened to be a triumphant occasion for a great goalscorer was instead altered by an occasional one. Chelsea committed £115m for Moises Caicedo in part because of their propensity to overpay for many a player. It certainly was not, however, for his capacity to find the net.
Yet fees of such magnitude can demand a player has a transformative impact and, in an unexpected way, the biggest signing in Premier League history did. A volley was struck beautifully, nestling in the corner of the Manchester United net. Van Nistelrooy only had four minutes to savour a lead he greeted so dramatically. Chelsea had a point at Old Trafford which, given their last league win here came when Sir Alex Ferguson was still managing, may have been the best they could achieve.
Their first-half superiority suggested otherwise. Welcome as Caicedo’s equaliser was for Enzo Maresca, there was a way in which this game represented a missed opportunity: certainly, for all their progress under the Italian, they have not had a statement result in his tenure. This could have provided it. Caicedo’s goal nevertheless meant they clambered into the top four as they made up a point on Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa over the weekend. It might, though, have been better.
So, too, for the watching Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the waiting Ruben Amorim as Alejandro Garnacho came agonisingly close to a winner with an 89th-minute half-volley that he hooked just over the bar. “We had the better of the chances,” claimed Van Nistelrooy. Yet after United’s two previous flagship home matches this season ended in 3-0 wins for Liverpool and Tottenham, there may be relief they averted a hat-trick of embarrassing reverses. It was a consequence in part of the feel-good factor engendered by Van Nistelrooy’s temporary appointment. His United were not lacking in spirit, though Amorim may detect tactical failings, issues in midfield and difficulties at left-back, where Noussair Mazraoui struggled against the electric Noni Madueke before the break.
In the centre of the pitch, there was a tale of four hugely expensive signings. United had further evidence of the enduring magnetism of Casemiro, who had a role in both goals. His astute diagonal ball led to United’s penalty. His poor header brought Chelsea’s leveller. That, perhaps, is Casemiro now, better in attack than defence.
For Chelsea, meanwhile, the fortunes of the £100m men have diverged sharply. Enzo Fernandez was again benched, emerging only to spurn a chance to decide the game by blazing over the bar. Caicedo was arguably the best player on the pitch. “Moi is doing fantastic,” Maresca said. “The problem with Moi and with Enzo is because the club paid big money, people expect them always to be the best but they are human beings.” Caicedo, at least, is benefiting from patience and understanding, along with a new sidekick. In Romeo Lavia and the Ecuadorian, Chelsea had the more compelling, more convincing midfield. Alongside Casemiro, United had Manuel Ugarte: invariably in the wrong place, often doing the wrong thing, sometimes at the wrong time. Amorim, who managed him at Sporting, will be charged with resolving United’s latest problem.
Van Nistelrooy has resisted the temptation to try the Portuguese’s 3-4-3 formation and the first half was an Erik ten Hag-style basketball game, full of transitions. It was a mystery why it produced so few clear-cut chances. Chelsea, in particular, should have had more. Both sides hit the woodwork, Madueke heading Cole Palmer’s corner on to the post, Marcus Rashford volleying Bruno Fernandes’ deep cross on to the bar. United, with a hole where they needed a midfield, tended to leave Palmer free, which amounted to a risky policy. His capacity to glide past players was apparent when they got close enough. If unconvincing at times, Matthijs de Ligt nevertheless made two fine blocks from the Mancunian’s shots. When, in stoppage time at the end, Lisandro Martinez caught Palmer with his studs, he was fortunate to escape with a yellow card. “It is quite clear it is a red,” said Maresca.
It made for an ill-tempered ending but the second half was largely less chaotic, albeit with more goals and goalmouth action. The deadlock was broken after Rasmus Hojlund took down Casemiro’s pass. His touch was taking him away from goal, but Robert Sanchez brought him down. Fernandes converted the penalty. The interim manager seemed to have retained his pace from his playing days as he celebrated. After no goals in his last 17 outings for Ten Hag, the scorer has three in two for Van Nistelrooy. The captain was nevertheless quick to say sorry. “I spoke to the manager [Ten Hag] and apologised to him,” Fernandes said. “I was disappointed he has gone and I tried to help him. I wasn’t scoring goals.”
United, the third lowest scorers in the division, are not scoring enough either and Chelsea were soon level, Caicedo drilling in an inch-perfect shot. The scoreline had some justice. It probably didn’t do United much good, given they need to make up ground if they are to get close to the top four. Time will tell whether it helps or hinders Chelsea’s challenge for a Champions League place. Yet in Caicedo, there was someone who clearly took a sizeable step forward.
