It wasn’t long before United were trailing by two goals and reduced to 10 men. This made for a disappointing afternoon at Stamford Bridge for the travelling fans, with many staying until the end.

In this winners and losers column, United fans won’t be surprised to see fewer players come away from the game on a positive note. They’ve let down Carrick as a result.

Winners

Unfortunately, there are just two winners from this one. Some might say we’re being too kind.

Andrey Santos: This may get overlooked because of the result and second-half collapse, but we saw the best 45 minutes of Santos in a United shirt in the first half. He sniffed out danger and read the game superbly. The Brazilian wasn’t as effective in the second half.

Kobbie Mainoo: We may be accused of clutching at straws here, but Mainoo’s return was a positive regardless of the result. United have missed their best midfielder in recent weeks. He needed to get minutes under his belt before being thrown back into the starting line-up.

Losers

Lisandro Martinez: Not only at fault for Chelsea’s first goal, but his second yellow card was a total disgrace. He let everyone down, especially Carrick, when he brazenly barged into Wesley Fofana rather than attacking the ball. He had also been used like a rucksack by Rogers in the lead-up to his deserved dismissal.

Amad Diallo: Wasted a glorious chance in the first half after getting beyond Chelsea’s defence, only to sky his effort over the bar. His last goal for United came in December 2026.

Michael Carrick: Although Carrick has been let down by his players again, there’s no denying that he will be the one to lose his job if these results continue. Every loss adds to the pressure he is under right now.