BREAKING NEWS: “I’ve never faced such a fiercely aggressive player in my career before. Although we ended up sharing the points, he was the standout player on the field last night,” revealed Cole Palmer, sharing his surprise over the ONE Manchester United player who left a strong impression on him with his performance—not Rashford, and not Garnacho.

Cole Palmer recently shared his thoughts after Manchester United and Chelsea drew 1-1 at Old Trafford, remarking on the tenacity of one United player who impressed him with his aggressive play. Palmer admitted he hadn’t encountered anyone quite as fiercely competitive, describing this player as the standout on the field. Surprisingly, it wasn’t star players like Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho; Palmer was taken aback by another player’s commanding presence.

Manchester United’s performance was mixed, with individual efforts varying across the board. Andre Onana, United’s goalkeeper, earned a rating of 5 due to some misplaced kicks and a near-mishap when he couldn’t initially handle a Chelsea set-piece.

Fortunately, he corrected his mistake shortly afterward. Diogo Dalot and Matthijs de Ligt both received a 6, indicating average performances. Dalot handled his responsibilities quietly, managing to neutralize the threat of Pedro Neto, while de Ligt made a crucial block to stop Palmer’s shot but was not responsible for Chelsea’s equalizer.

Lisandro Martinez, another central defender, returned to the lineup with a solid performance, while Noussair Mazraoui, playing as left-back, was arguably United’s most consistent player in the first half. Mazraoui impressed with his willingness to push forward and his technical skill, earning him a rating of 7.

In contrast, Manuel Ugarte struggled against Chelsea’s midfield, failing to keep pace with Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo and often losing possession. Ugarte’s difficulties were reflected in his rating of 3.

Casemiro, however, displayed greater composure and consistency, delivering key tackles and interceptions and helping advance the ball when possible. Bruno Fernandes shone brightly, notching an 8 rating for his composed penalty that put United on the scoreboard. He also set up Marcus Rashford with a well-timed cross-field pass. Rashford, rated 6, hit the bar right before halftime and appeared more comfortable on the left side.

Alejandro Garnacho, despite his potential, had a frustrating night with a rating of 4. He missed a prime scoring opportunity and struggled against Reece James, receiving a stern reminder from Casemiro to improve his defensive efforts. Rasmus Hojlund, rated 6, won United’s penalty and made a few attempts on goal, but his passing was sometimes inconsistent.

Among the substitutes, Amad Diallo had a quieter than usual outing, securing a 5 but lacking his usual attacking spark. Victor Lindelof helped United maintain their position, while Joshua Zirkzee showed promise but lost his footing on a promising run, both also scoring a 5.

Palmer’s surprise at United’s aggressiveness highlights the intensity that characterized the game, and while United missed opportunities, their defensive resilience, especially in the face of Chelsea’s midfield pressure, defined their performance.