Spanish club mocks Chelsea after defeat at Old Trafford

Chelsea’s troubles at Old Trafford continued on Saturday afternoon as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, further underlining a miserable record at the Theatre of Dreams that stretches back more than a decade.

The latest setback was quickly picked up on by Sevilla, who used their official social media channels to mock the Londoners with a tongue-in-cheek reminder of their own success at the famous ground. “Last away win at Old Trafford: Sevilla 2018, Chelsea 2013. We don’t even play in the Premier League,” the Spanish club posted, a message that went viral and rubbed yet more salt into Chelsea’s already deep wounds.

The match itself was chaotic from the very beginning. Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was sent off after only five minutes for a reckless challenge, immediately leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s side with a mountain to climb. Yet the game did not remain 11 versus 10 for long, as Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was dismissed later in the first half, reducing both teams to ten men and turning the encounter into a scrappy, unpredictable battle. United seized control after the break, scoring twice to establish a commanding 2-0 lead, before Trevoh Chalobah gave Chelsea late hope with a goal that ultimately proved nothing more than consolation.

For Chelsea supporters, the result was depressingly familiar. The Blues have not celebrated an away victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League since May 2013, when Juan Mata scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge of Manchester United. That solitary goal gave Chelsea all three points on the day, but since then, the club have endured an astonishing run of frustration in visits to Manchester. Over the last 11 years, Chelsea have drawn seven and lost six league matches at Old Trafford, regardless of who has been in the dugout. High-profile coaches such as José Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel, Frank Lampard, Graham Potter, and now Pochettino have all failed to break the curse.

The contrast with Sevilla’s record adds an extra layer of embarrassment for Chelsea. The Spanish side memorably knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League in 2018, winning 2-1 in the Round of 16 at Old Trafford thanks to a brace from Wissam Ben Yedder. That victory is still fondly remembered by Sevilla fans, and their playful reminder on social media underlines how long Chelsea’s drought has lasted compared to a club that does not even compete in the Premier League.

Even more telling is Chelsea’s scoring record at Old Trafford. It has been almost 15 years since the Blues managed to score more than once in a single match at the stadium, a remarkable statistic given the calibre of strikers and attacking players who have represented the club during that time. The likes of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Olivier Giroud, Timo Werner, and Romelu Lukaku have all worn the shirt in visits to Old Trafford without managing to lift that particular burden.

Currently, Chelsea hold the third-longest active winless run at Old Trafford among Premier League clubs. Only Brentford and Leeds United have been waiting longer for an away victory at the stadium. While both those clubs have historically spent long stretches outside the top flight, Chelsea’s inability to win there is especially striking given their consistent presence among England’s elite and their reputation as one of Europe’s richest and most ambitious sides.

For Pochettino, this latest defeat will intensify the pressure as Chelsea continue to struggle for consistency. Despite heavy investment in the transfer market, the Blues remain a team searching for an identity, and the inability to win at grounds like Old Trafford is symbolic of their broader difficulties. Sevilla’s mocking post may have been lighthearted, but it tapped into a serious issue that Chelsea must address if they want to return to the summit of English football: their struggles in the biggest matches, at the most intimidating venues, against their fiercest rivals.

Until that changes, the drought at Old Trafford looks set to remain an uncomfortable talking point—one that opposition fans, and mischievous clubs like Sevilla, will continue to exploit at every opportunity.