With one game remaining, United returned to the top of European football.
Manchester United raced to a decisive 4-1 victory over wasteful Chelsea to secure qualification for the Champions League for the upcoming season.
In a promising debut season that was destined to end with a top-four finish until a late stumble, the Dutchman has guided the Red Devils to Carabao Cup victory and next month's FA Cup final.
However, Ten Hag turned things around, as United returned to the top table of European football with one game remaining thanks to goals from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford against a lackluster Chelsea.
For Frank Lampard's Blues, this was their 16th loss in 38 Premier League games, a club record. A poor early Mykhailo Mudryk error was made up for by a Casemiro header in the sixth minute.
Additional Chelsea opportunities went unrealized throughout the evening, notably Conor Gallagher's missed opportunity in first-half stoppage time, which was followed by Martial's goal.
The victory was only tempered by Antony's stretcher exit and a late Joao Felix consolation. Bruno Fernandes' penalty and substitute Marcus Rashford's goal—his 30th of the season in all competitions—wrapped up the win.
When Christian Eriksen fired over a free kick from the left and Casemiro rose high to force a header past the statuesque Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ten Hag kept with the team that defeated Bournemouth.
After the VAR cleared the goal after looking for offside, the Brazil international punched the air.
If Mudryk, one of Chelsea's three substitutions, had shown even the slightest amount of control two minutes sooner, the outcome may have been quite different.
The winger managed to turn wide after the promising left-back laid it on a platter for him, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka being pulled inside and Antony failing to follow Lewis Hall's run.
Play went from end to end, and when Eriksen put three teammates through against one defender, United had a wonderful opportunity to double their lead.
Because of Fernandes' deft move, Antony had a clear path to play in Martial, but the hesitant forward was intercepted by Cesar Azpilicueta.
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