Diego Costa pounced in stoppage time as Chelsea nipped Manchester United’s mini-revival in the bud with a 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
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Mourinho has been out of work after he was sacked by Chelsea for the second time in December following a dire start to their defence of the Barclays Premier League title. Referee Michael Oliver disagreed.
Chelsea’s French centre-back Kurt Zouma will undergo scans on Monday after being stretchered off with what Hiddink feared was a “very bad” hyperextended right knee.
As he entered a packed press room at Stamford Bridge, van Gaal cast an eye on the supporting cast before opening his bottle of water to calmly pour into a glass.
The Blues maintain the possibility remains an offer will be tabled to the skipper, but, in a show of solidarity from the supporters, banners were peeled back from The Shed and Matthew Harding Ends, with one remaining. They will next lock horns with 13th-placed Chelsea on Sunday.
Hiddink added Pedro Rodriguez to the mix and after De Gea had saved brilliantly from Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas, Costa equalised.
Willian leaves Borthwick-Jackson on the floor. And the captain thanked the supporters at the end. United were also unchanged following their convincing win over Stoke.
Van Gaal is widely expected to leave in the summer, particularly if the club fail to secure Champions League qualification.
Speaking of the incident, Terry told Sky Sports: “It was going in”. So to come here, it’s an empty place, but it’s so full of so many things.
He though stated his passion for his loved Chelsea saying: “I would have turned down every job in the world – the Manchester United job, every one – for Chelsea”. It’s sad for the fans also. “For me too, but I can cope”, he said. “I’ll never forget. The memories will live with me forever”.
Van Gaal said: “When there is such nonsense written about me, I can not believe there is already a relationship between Jose Mourinho and United”.
“It’s always special to play here”.
“That’s why I’m frustrated and my players are frustrated”, he said.
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Now as pressure continues to swirl around Van Gaal’s future, Woodward is set to face some big questions when quizzed by investors in a conference call this Thursday. The last few years Manchester United haven’t won here so it’s not an easy match – and we took the lead with a fantastic goal. So, the fact they are leaking goals will give Man United hope of coming away with the three points. I have played alongside him on the left for most of the time, even in training. Jones went straight down the tunnel but there was no indication he had suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury that has kept him out of first-team action since January 2.
