Man United 0-0 Chelsea: Cavani makes debut in Old Trafford stalemate
Premier League
By
Mirror
| Oct 24, 2020
Manchester United and Chelsea played out a goalless draw at Old Trafford in a game that was bereft of quality and chances.
Neither side came into the contest with any real form and had plenty of questions to answer regarding their defensive capabilities.
In a way then a clean sheet for both managers will be seen as a plus, but going forward they will have expected more.
Edinson Cavani introduced himself to United fans with a second-half cameo but he was unable to light up what was a forgettable game.
Marcus Rashford had a first-half chance that was well saved by Edouard Mendy.
But in the second period neither goalkeeper made a save of note as both team's seemed content to take a point.
Here are five talking points from the 0-0 draw in Manchester.
Cavani enters the fray
The Uruguayan was United's headline summer signing in what was a poor window of recruitment.
Nevertheless, a man with his goalscoring record cannot be ignored and Solskjaer will hope more of the same is to come.
Cavani, who has taken on the pressure of wearing the no 7 shirt, made his first appearance from the bench having come on for Daniel James in the 57th minute.
He almost made the perfect start as his first touch went narrowly wide, but his movement was excellent.
After that though he was relatively quiet, which in truth reflected his side's attacking efforts.
Confidence is key
It is no great secret that confidence is integral to any successful team, so when a team lacks confidence it sure does show.
So when a contest features two teams who are lacking confidence you get a particularly cagey affair.
Both United and Chelsea have struggled defensively with their opening results this season not living up to standards.
The opening 45 especially showed two sides determined not to lose rather than desperate to win.
As the game grew older both teams begun to express themselves, but even that wasn't done with any great vigour.
What's up with Van de Beek?
It is becoming more and more of a mystery with each passing game - why exactly did United sign Donny van de Beek?
£40m from Ajax and the Dutchman is yet to start a game despite showing his quality, when given an opportunity that is.
He scored on his debut but is yet to be given a chance to impress from the start.
You could say he's a similar player to Bruno Fernandes so is battling for a starting berth, but then why sign him in the first place.
His former side Ajax won 13-0 on Saturday afternoon, you wonder whether he's missing them.
Tuanzebe's absent, Maguire returns
The young English defender was a star for the Red Devils as they secured another memorable win in Paris on Tuesday night.
But stifling the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar was still not enough to earn him another start.
Instead Harry Maguire returned and it was a decision that the United boss will have been seeking vindication on.
The centre-half was lucky not to give away a penalty when he appeared to drag Cesar Azpilicueta down.
Form has been hard to come by for Maguire, both at club and international level, and the continued emergence of Tuanzebe means retaining his starting spot is not about to get any easier.
Mendy's moments
There will have been a moment in the first-half where Lampard must've thought to himself "not again!"
Mendy, receiving the ball under no pressure, attempted to find Andreas Christensen with a short pass but almost turned the ball into his own net.
Chelsea have hardly hit the jackpot with goalkeepers in recent years, but the former Rennes man is tipped to be a solution.
He quickly showed his quality with two smart saves and excellently denied Rashford late on.
A clean sheet will have been a major boost as the Frenchman acclimatizes to English football having kept Sevilla scoreless in midweek.