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Manchester United cannot afford to repeat familiar mistakes after Chelsea win - Charlotte Duncker

Share By Charlotte Duncker 06:00, 19 FEB 2020 Sport opinion Manchester United beat Chelsea on Monday Divisive Mino Raiola rant aside, Monday night ended up being a very good one for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

For the third time in his 14-month tenure as Manchester United manager the Norwegian masterminded a victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Almost a year to the day since their 2-0 win there in the FA Cup last season Solskjaer recorded another impressive result.

It wasn't a vintage United performance, especially in the first half, but there were plenty of positives for the Norwegian to take away as they narrowed the gap on fourth place to just three points - something many thought was impossible a few months ago.

The key for United now is to gain momentum.

They've been here before. In fact, they've been in this exact position after Marcus Rashford's double in the League Cup gave United victory in October at a time where they looked like they were getting back on track after that humiliating defeat at St James' Park against Newcastle. And then came the trip to Bournemouth a couple of days later.

Read More Related Articles Manchester United news and transfers LIVE David de Gea and Sancho latest Read More Related Articles Manchester United have the moral high ground over Mino Raiola but it's an argument they can't win A terrible performance and a Josh King goal brought United's mini-revival to a grinding halt. And that's what's been harming them all season.

The good performances and impressive results have been there at times. They've beaten City, remain the only side to take points off the champions-elect Liverpool, have beaten Leicester and done the league double over Chelsea. But for every good result there has been a bad one, with draws against Everton and Aston Villa and a defeat by Watford all experienced this season.

Many thought United's last win at Chelsea, which came shortly after the home draw against Liverpool, would be the turning point for United's season and a springboard to push them back into the top four. It didn't happen.

Read More Related Articles Manchester United unsung hero has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a selection dilemma But that's exactly how they need to use Monday night's result. The second half in particular should give the team confidence going into a busy stage of the season. The players are already seeing the benefits of their winter break camp, with Harry Maguire's goal coming straight off the training pitch and, if they can continue to replicate that in the coming weeks, they've got every chance of achieving their aim of finishing in the top four.

At times this season they've looked like a team without a plan or the passion to win but both of those elements were there at Stamford Bridge and now they need to maintain and build on that going into Thursday's Europa League game.

"If we get consistent, it’s not going to go down to the wire," Solskjaer said back in December and with just three points separating United and Chelsea his side could have a more comfortable end to the season than most initially thought.

But consistency in the coming weeks is going to be the key.