Showing absolutely no consideration for the fans in the stands and the viewers at home, Chelsea and Manchester United played a horrendously dull match at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, drawing 0-0. New Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez was booed as he was introduced, and fans sang "you're not welcome here" well into the first half. It was the clear highlight of the game.
Chelsea managed just six shot attempts and one shot on target, displaying a surprisingly quick ability to adapt to the tactical style of their new manager. Fernando Torres, who Benitez was presumably brought in to rejuvenate, turned in another spectacularly poor performance.
James Milner wasted the first good chance of the game, wasting a shooting opportunity with a heavy touch that turned the move into nothing at all in the 20th minute. This was a sign of what was to come for the following 70 minutes. The match continued to produce a whole lot of nothing, with both sides struggling to create chances until the halftime break. David Luiz produced Chelsea's only shot on target in the 39th minute, with a free kick that was saved easily.
In the 49th minute, Chelsea put together a decent move with Juan Mata finding Ashley Cole the box, but the left back's effort was turned away by Vincent Kompany for a corner. Cole hit what should have been Chelsea's second shot on target later in the match as well, when he tested Joe Hart in the 85th minute, but the ball was tipped over by the City keeper. Stunningly, referee. Chris Foy signaled for a goal kick.
As impotent as Chelsea's attack was, City's wasn't a whole lot better. They hit five shots on target and had 58 percent of the possession, but did very little to test the goal of Petr Cech. The Chelsea keeper did have to make a nice save on a rip by Yaya Toure in the 59th minute, but it was the only time he was forced into anything less than simple.
For those who watched the match, it's 90 horrible minutes of their lives that they can never get back. While both sets of fans might have taken a 0-0 draw before kickoff, they certainly wouldn't have taken a match that was this outrageously boring.