Kante gives Mourinho more Stamford Bridge blues
Jose Mourinho endured another disappointing return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 to end their FA Cup defence.
Mourinho’s first return to the Blues after his December 2015 sacking ended in a humiliating 4-0 thrashing and United ultimately fared little better in this quarter-final capitulation, secured by N’Golo Kante’s stunning strike, Opera sports reports.
Mourinho’s plans were thrown out of kilter as Ander Herrera picked up two first-half bookings for fouls on the superb Eden Hazard, and Kante – scorer of Chelsea’s fourth against United in October – lashed home to give the hosts the advantage.
Without the inspirational Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a depleted United mustered little by way of response as Chelsea suffocated the game with long spells of possession which flew in the face of Mourinho’s pre-match jibes about their perceived counter-attacking style which is set to secure Premier League glory.
Chelsea – who threatened a second late on through substitute Cesc Fabregas – join Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham in a star-studded semi-final line-up, but this one-sided victory should serve as a warning of the Blues vast double-winning potential.
