Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd: The bus accelerates towards the championship.

Chelsea opted for a defensive approach at Stamford Bridge but still secured the victory with a single goal from Eden Hazard.

Drogba (11) was a major contributor to Chelsea's most recent Premier League championship five years ago and is now alongside new star Eden Hazard. Photo: Reuters.

Hazard's goal came in the 38th minute after a quick counter-attack through the center. Oscar provided the assist with a skillful backheel pass, allowing Hazard to burst into the penalty area before nutmegging goalkeeper De Gea. The Belgian midfielder nearly doubled the lead in the second half if the crossbar hadn't denied a spectacular volley. On Manchester United's side, the visitors also hit the post once from a decisive shot by Falcao.

Chelsea's victory over Man Utd extended their lead over Arsenal to 10 points. Both teams have six games remaining before the end of the season, and Mourinho's side have virtually secured the championship. Meanwhile, Man Utd risk having their lead over Man City and Liverpool closed, meaning they will continue to struggle in the race for the top four.

For manager Van Gaal himself, he has yet to find a way to beat his former assistant after three encounters (two losses, one draw). Both the first defeat in the 2010 Champions League final (Inter 2-0 Bayern) and this time saw Van Gaal's team dominate possession and attack, but ultimately paid the price after a sharp counter-attack.

Chelsea started the game exactly as many had predicted: a safe, defensive approach. Manager Mourinho made no secret of this intention, pushing center-back Kurt Zouma forward to partner Matic in midfield, creating a strong shield in front of the Chelsea defense. This pairing prevented Manchester United from finding a way through the middle, forcing them to move the ball around the flanks. However, Manchester United's crosses were ineffective as Chelsea's defense neutralized them all.

Manchester United brought a makeshift lineup to Stamford Bridge, fielding a central defensive pairing of Smalling and McNair, Rooney playing in midfield, and Falcao starting from the beginning. Fortunately, this unexpected disruption to Man Utd's team didn't put much pressure on Chelsea, as the home side deliberately ceded possession and adopted a defensive counter-attacking style of play.

Mourinho's plan nearly fell apart in the opening minutes. Rooney had a clear chance to open the scoring from inside the penalty area, but he sent the ball wide of the post. Rooney's unbelievable miss even led goalkeeper De Gea to celebrate, thinking the ball had gone in.

Hazard's goal helped Chelsea grapple with the championship, and also gave him a greater chance of winning the Premier League Player of the Season award. Photo: Reuters.

Following a defensive lapse, Chelsea immediately tightened their defense, leaving no space for the Manchester United players. On a rare occasion when he got to play, Falcao was pitted against Chelsea's crowded defense, rendering him virtually invisible for almost the entire match. However, in his only two attempts at goal, Falcao hit the post once.

Falcao was tightly marked and Rooney dropped back to midfield, leaving Fellaini as Manchester United's only hope. The Belgian star has been in good form recently but couldn't shine against Chelsea because his space was constantly limited by the muscular midfield duo of Zouma and Matic. Fellaini struggled in tight spaces and frequently lost possession against Chelsea's numerous players.

Falcao and Fellaini were frustrated by Chelsea's blue defensive wall. Photo: Reuters.

Mourinho's defensive tactics, with players behind the ball, proved too difficult for Man Utd to overcome. While the visitors relentlessly pushed forward without scoring, they paid the price. Hazard proved he is a strong contender for the Premier League Player of the Year award by calmly beating his direct competitor De Gea in a one-on-one situation.

The goal boosted Hazard's confidence, allowing him to execute many skillful dribbles that troubled the Manchester United defense. This was extremely helpful for Chelsea in slowing down the pace of the game and reducing the pressure from the opposition. Alongside Hazard, Drogba showed his experience in a high-stakes match by creating invisible pressure on the Manchester United defenders with his fouls. The "Elephant" had several chances but lacked the finishing touch.

The match ended with Herrera's dive as a last-ditch effort from Man Utd. The Chelsea players embraced each other in celebration, knowing the championship was within reach. This was Chelsea's fourth consecutive one-goal victory in the Premier League. The blue bus was moving slowly, but no obstacle in its path could stop it at this moment.

According to VNE