Chelsea’s return to Premier League action could not have started in a worse fashion.
Before fans had even settled into their seats, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez found himself sent off in record-breaking fashion, making history for all the wrong reasons.
Just four minutes into the clash against Manchester United, Sanchez rushed out of his goal in a reckless attempt to stop Bryan Mbeumo.
Instead of clearing the danger, he wiped the striker out completely — leaving referee and fans alike with little choice but to brandish a red card.
Maresca Left Shocked on the Sideline
The early dismissal left Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca stunned, shaking his head on the touchline.
Losing your goalkeeper within the opening minutes is bad enough, but being forced into a reshuffle that early on was an added blow.
Wonderkid Estevao Willian was sacrificed so Filip Jorgensen could come on in goal, while Tosin Adarabioyo replaced Pedro Neto as Maresca scrambled to patch things together.
United Waste No Time in Punishing Chelsea
As if things weren’t already going downhill, Manchester United capitalised swiftly.
Bruno Fernandes struck in the 14th minute to give the home fans something to celebrate, punishing Chelsea’s disorganisation at the back.
By the 37th minute, Casemiro compounded the misery, heading home a second goal after some truly calamitous defending from the Blues.
Palmer’s Injury Adds to the Misery
Just when Chelsea thought things couldn’t get worse, Cole Palmer was forced off with an injury only 20 minutes into the match.
He was replaced by Andrey Santos, pulled his coat on, and disappeared down the tunnel.
By then, Maresca had already burned through three substitutions in barely half an hour.
How the Red Card Happened
The moment that changed everything came when Mbeumo ghosted in behind Chelsea’s defence, latching onto a header from Benjamin Sesko.
Sanchez came charging out recklessly, misjudged the ball completely, and smashed straight into Mbeumo’s leg.
It was a moment of madness, and one that left Chelsea chasing the game from the very start.
United Desperate for a Lift
For Manchester United, this was exactly the kind of break they needed.
They came into the game under enormous pressure, having endured their worst start to a league campaign in 33 years.
Sitting in 14th place with only four points from four games, manager Ruben Amorim badly needed a result to quiet the doubters.
Shearer’s Stark Warning
Ahead of the clash, Alan Shearer had made his feelings clear.
Speaking to Betfair, he described United’s showing against Manchester City as “men against boys” and warned Amorim could not afford another humiliation.
He stressed that United cannot linger near the bottom half of the table given their heavy summer spending, and suggested that Amorim’s rigid system may either make or break him as a manager.
A Defining Match for Amorim
With the pressure mounting, Amorim walked into this game knowing his job could hinge on the outcome.
His tactics have been heavily questioned, and many believe several United players simply don’t suit his approach.
The result against Chelsea — against ten men and in the rain — may not silence every critic, but it certainly buys him some breathing space.