Chelsea close in on Champions League after Cucurella sinks Manchester United

The relief inside Stamford Bridge was palpable. Just as Chelsea feared their Champions League dreams fading away, Marc Cucurella nodded the biggest goal of their season and a firecracker inside west London ignited.

For 71 minutes they had toiled, struggling to find a way past a dismal Manchester United team that have now not won in the Premier League for eight matches. But then came salvation: a sumptuous Reece James pirouette, his beautiful dinked ball to the far post and a powerful header from the floppy-haired Spaniard. Who needs effective attackers when full-backs can do the business?