And yet what threatened to be a triumphant occasion for a great goalscorer was instead altered by an occasional one. Chelsea committed £115m for Moises Caicedo in part because of their propensity to overpay for many a player. It certainly was not, however, for his capacity to find the net.
Yet fees of such magnitude can demand a player has a transformative impact and, in an unexpected way, the biggest signing in Premier League history did. A volley was struck beautifully, nestling in the corner of the Manchester United net. Van Nistelrooy only had four minutes to savour a lead he greeted so dramatically. Chelsea had a point at Old Trafford which, given their last league win here came when Sir Alex Ferguson was still managing, may have been the best they could achieve.
Their first-half superiority suggested otherwise. Welcome as Caicedo’s equaliser was for Enzo Maresca, there was a way in which this game represented a missed opportunity: certainly, for all their progress under the Italian, they have not had a statement result in his tenure. This could have provided it. Caicedo’s goal nevertheless meant they clambered into the top four as they made up a point on Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa over the weekend. It might, though, have been better.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin November 04, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin November 04, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Chinese airliner could be hypersonic... or just hype
Beijing says it’s building a passenger plane that will fly from London to New York in under two hours. Jonathan Margolis has seen China’s previous boasts, and he has serious doubts
Why I joined march to clean up Britain's polluted rivers
The River Irk was once renowned for the clarity of its water. The name denotes fresh, clean and pure in the ancient Brittonic language, previously spoken in northern England, while the Irk is also thought to refer to the fleet-footed Roebuck deer.
How Badenoch will use Tory template of another 'outsider'
The thing to understand about Kemi Badenoch is that, for all her manifest shortcomings, she is not stupid.
Verstappen's incredible win kills off Norris's title dream
Max Verstappen dealt a fatal blow to Lando Norris’s world championship hopes by racing from 17th on the grid to win a rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix in a performance for the ages.
How England squandered a golden opportunity... again
For England, it has become a familiar feeling. For the third time this year, Steve Borthwick’s side let a game slip from their grasp, squandering a golden opportunity to secure a rare win over the All Blacks as George Ford missed twice with his boot in the final minutes.
What crisis? Spurs shut out the noise to blow Villa away
A memorable second half from Tottenham Hotspur, borne out of a memorable message from Ange Postecoglou. “I keep saying to the players, if I was a racehorse, I’d have blinkers.”
Caicedo saves Chelsea as United hang on for draw
Ruud van Nistelrooy set off down the touchline in celebration, leaping as he punched the air.
Female student arrested in Iran for stripping in protest
An Iranian woman was arrested after reportedly stripping down to her undergarments to protest an alleged assault by security forces for not following strict hijab laws.
Pro-Western Moldova president wins second term
Moldova’s pro-western president Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud and intimidation.
Trump criticises 'crooked' country in rambling speech
As Harris goes for Black vote ahead of polling day tomorrow
