This 66th point taken this season by the Blues allows them to be 6 ahead of Arsenal (4th) and especially 8 over Tottenham, 5th and first virtual non-qualifier for the C1, with 5 games to play.
Sixth with 55 units, but more than three games to play, the Red Devils are likely to have to settle for the Europa League, at best, next season.
And on what they showed again on Thursday evening, they really don't deserve better, even if "CR7" has once again played hide and seek.
The Portuguese has simply scored 8 of his team's last 9 goals and with 17 league goals, he is only ahead of Mohamed Salah (22) in the scorers' rankings.
On a brilliant ladle from Nemanja Matic, he carried out a perfect and chained control with a recovery which left no chance for Edouard Mendy (1-1, 62nd), 90 seconds after his team conceded the opener .
A goal totally against the run of play and which has something to frustrate the Londoners with this draw which also owes a lot to David De Gea, impassable in the first period.
From the 6th minute, he repelled a shot from Reece James, before coming out well ahead of Kaï Havertz, ideally launched by N'Golo Kanté (30th) and again intervening on a header from the German (37th).
Unhappy in the finish, Havertz turned into a decisive passer by deflecting a new cross from James with his head for a volley from Marcos Alonso, at the far post, who this time found the fault (60th), even if his team quickly became disillusioned.
Chelsea could still have forced the decision on a nice combination initiated by Kanté for a clever deflection from Mason Mount towards James, but the inside of the left foot of the side touched the outside of the post of De Gea who had not moved.
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo (g) beats Chelsea defender Reece James on April 28, 2022 in Manchester Lindsey Parnaby AFP
Very agitated on the edge of the field, Thomas Tuchel will have to be satisfied with this point which should allow the Blues to keep their place on the podium, since they still have to face the poorly ranked Everton (18th), Leeds (16th) and Watford (19th) by the end of the championship.
The prospect of playing in the main continental competition next season should also bring some relief as the club's sale process seems to be slipping a little.
© 2022 AFP