Man Utd:<\/b> Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has described his team\u2019s clean sheet in their 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United as \u2018very important\u2019 and praised goalkeeper Mike Penders for his stable performance at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chelsea registered their second clean sheet in three Premier League matches as they returned to winning ways after suffering two consecutive defeats in the league and the cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Penders played an important role in securing the shutout, particularly during a challenging first half when Manchester United created several scoring opportunities. The Belgian goalkeeper produced crucial saves to deny Amad Diallo and kept Chelsea in the contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His most significant contribution came towards the closing stages when he made a full-length dive to get a decisive touch on Bryan Mbeumo\u2019s powerful 20-yard effort, which subsequently struck the crossbar before being cleared.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe clean sheet is very important, and it\u2019s the second one in three Premier League games. We need many more, and we don\u2019t take them for granted. Three points and a clean sheet is good, and we need to keep on repeating this scoreline,\u201d Alonso said in an official statement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Chelsea manager also praised Penders for his contribution, highlighting the goalkeeper\u2019s consistency and improvement after a difficult moment in the team\u2019s previous match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cNot just today; I think at Liverpool he was really solid. Mike had a very good performance today and was very stable for a goalkeeper. He has shown a good level against Man United, and we kept another clean sheet, the second one in three games. Now we need to keep going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Alonso further acknowledged that Penders had responded well to the difficult experience from last Saturday, describing such moments as an important part of a player\u2019s development.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMike has overcome the difficult moment that we had last Saturday, and this is part of the development of any goalkeeper or any player,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chelsea secured all three points through two second-half goals after an entertaining opening period in which both teams created opportunities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Morgan Rogers broke the deadlock with an impressive individual effort, collecting the ball in midfield before beating Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez and chipping the finish over goalkeeper Senne Lammens.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cole Palmer doubled Chelsea\u2019s advantage in the 64th minute by converting a penalty awarded following a VAR review for Martinez elbowing Wesley Fofana during a corner. The Argentine defender was also shown his second yellow card and sent off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Manchester United had threatened in the first half, with Penders making important saves, while Matheus Cunha and Chelsea\u2019s Estev\u00e3o Willian both had goals ruled out for offside.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cole Palmer doubled Chelsea\u2019s advantage in the 64th minute by converting a penalty awarded following a VAR review for Martinez elbowing Wesley Fofana during a corner. The Argentine defender was also shown his second yellow card and sent off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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