Manchester United lifted their first trophy since 2019 on Sunday afternoon as Erik ten Hag's side won the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge - whilst Chelsea look a shadow of their former selves. Summer signing Casemiro headed home an opening goal before Marcus Rashford added a second before half-time, giving United a comfortable lead over Newcastle.
Ten Hag endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford and has had to overcome a number of challenges. Leaving Marcus Rashford out of the team for being late, dropping club captain Harry Maguire, disciplining Cristiano Ronaldo - all of these problems have been dealt with immensely well by Ten Hag and he is now viewed as they key figure at the club - similar to that of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Speaking to SkySports after the Carabao Cup final, former United defender Gary Neville said: "The big things, leaving Marcus Rashford out after doing so well for being late, the way in which he handled the Ronaldo situation and leaving out Harry Maguire, those are massive decisions and could have quite easily gone the wrong way, but I think he has assumed control of the club again.
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"You think of Guardiola and Klopp and know they are the most important people at the football club, but Ten Hag today and in the last few months has just taken control of Manchester United again."
Things are not going as well at Stamford Bridge for Graham Potter. Two wins in Chelsea's last 16 games across all competitions has seen pressure build on Thomas Tuchel's successor, with the Blues sat 10th in the Premier League.
The west Londoners now find themselves closer to the relegation zone than the top four and the defeat to Tottenham has only added to the tension at Stamford Bridge. Todd Boehly and the Blues ownership team have stuck by Potter so far but seeing United win a trophy in Ten Hag's first season in charge shows them what they may have been able to achieve by appointing a world-class winning manager.
The United boss proved his credentials with titles in the Netherlands while at Ajax and with strong performances in the Champions League with a squad that isn't on the same level as the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Man City. Whilst Potter is undoubtedly a brilliant coach, he has never managed a team in the Champions League or a team expected to win titles, barring the Swedish league.
Under Roman Abramovich, there was a cut-throat history of sacking managers but always appointing those with a winning track record. There is a new vision at the club now with a view of a long-term project that will be sustainable.
It just doesn't seem to be the right fit for Potter considering the huge expectations at Stamford Bridge, especially following a £600million transfer spend this season. United were arguably in a much worse position than Chelsea at the start of the season, but now the Manchester outfit have rocketed past the Blues in their progression and are on the fringes of being involved in the Premier League title race.
United's example is a sign of what could be achieved if Boehly were to appoint a world-class manager with a history of winning trophies and good performances in the Champions League. There are options out there for Chelsea to consider should they take the decision to sack Potter with the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Mauricio Pochettino currently without a club.
The Blues are facing a critical month ahead and one which could see Boehly make his second change in the Chelsea dugout unless performances and results improve significantly.
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