United enjoyed a great year in 1999, as it won the treble and went on to go 29 matches unbeaten. But that run came to a rather abrupt end in October. It took Gus Poyet just 27 seconds to put Chelsea ahead, with Massimo Taibi in the United goal enduring something of a nightmare, and things only got worse. Nicky Butt was shown a red card, before a Henning Berg own-goal, Chris Sutton, Poyet and Jody Morris left United on the end of a humiliating defeat. That proved to be Taibi's final game in an ill-fated spell at the club.
Memories of Mourinho hurtling down the Old Trafford touchline while in charge of Porto will still have been fresh when United travelled to Stamford Bridge for the Portuguese coach's first game in charge of Chelsea on the opening day of the 2004-05 season. Eidur Gudjohnsen's early goal proved decisive, as he pounced on a Tim Howard mistake and Mourinho again got the better of United and Alex Ferguson. That victory proved to be a sign of things to come, with Chelsea going on to win the title – its first since 1954-55.
If there was one thing United made a habit of during Ferguson's tenure, it was scoring late goals. In February 2012, a late goal not only salvaged a point for it, but it completed a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down. Jonny Evans' own-goal was followed by efforts from Juan Mata and David Luiz just after the break, but a pair of Wayne Rooney penalties had United back in it with 21 minutes to go. Javier Hernandez then headed in six minutes from time to clinch a commendable point.
In what turned out to be Sir Alex Ferguson's last season in charge of the Red Devils, United to a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes through Van Persie's strike and a David Luiz own goal. The league leader struck back through Juan Mata and Ramires before the hour mark and looked in control to win the game. But red cards to Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres halted any momentum the Blues had on its side. Javier Hernandez again came off the bench to haunt Chelsea as he scored late to hand United its first league win at the Bridge since 2002.
The last time these two met each other in the league at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea ran out comprehensive winner. Mourinho's first return to Chelsea since joining United took only 30 seconds to start going wrong, as Pedro opened the scoring, and Gary Cahill slammed in a second from close range in the 21st minute. The brilliant Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante went on to score in the second half, giving Mourinho his heaviest Premier League loss in what was an embarrassing return to Stamford Bridge.
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