Manchester United faced Chelsea on Saturday night in a major fixture as the two teams eye up the chance to play Champions League football next year. Furthermore, after a devastating loss at home to Leeds, this game was huge for team morale.

The Red Devils came away with all three points after grinding out a 1-0 win thanks to a strike from Matheus Cunha just before halftime.

Just hours before the match, reports came out that Leny Yoro had not travelled with the squad, making Ayden Heaven, who had not played for around three months, the only centre-back in the squad.

Many assumed that Luke Shaw would be the chosen candidate to fill in next to Heaven; however, it was Mazraoui who was chosen due to his right foot balancing out Heaven's left foot.

Despite some reckless challenges early on from Heaven and Chelsea hitting the woodwork on two separate occasions, the pair were very solid at the back and played vital roles in the victory.

Gametime is crucial for a player to perform well, as is familiarity of playing with someone, as growing relationships on the pitch leads to better performances; therefore, it is all the more impressive that the duo played so well despite no prior experience with each other.

In a recent interview with The National after the game, the Belgium international praised the two defenders on how they adapted to the task they were given at the last minute.

"It’s not always the easiest. We also had it a couple times where players came in and came out this season, especially at centre-back. It’s a position where you need a little bit of confidence, where you need a little bit of like getting used to it.

“So it’s difficult when you’re not playing sometimes for a couple of months or a couple of games and you have to come in. Of course, I have the biggest trust in them because you see it every day in training and that’s also the biggest change for me as well.

“If you see in this club, everyone in the squad is able to play and able to perform at that level so you know when their moment is there they have to be ready for it. So yeah, they did it today. They did a very good job I think. It didn’t really feel like there was a lot of change to be honest so I can’t praise them enough as well.

“Just like not trying anything too difficult. Sometimes you come in and you maybe want to show yourself too much, especially for young guys.

“It’s not easy so I think they both did a good job and of course Nous [Mazraoui] playing centre-back when he’s normally a right-back which is not always the easiest. But I think today you couldn’t tell he wasn’t a centre-back his whole life.

“So playing together as well, helping each other out and also the team helping them out. It was a hard-fought team win. Everyone performed and especially those two guys I have to praise a lot.”

With Man United's 'six-pointer' win against Chelsea and completing a league double over them, they now find themselves ten points clear of the Blues.

For a period of time today, other fellow challengers, Aston Villa and Liverpool, both looked like they were settling for a draw in their matches; however, both scored injury-time winners, thus closing the gap from United back up.

Despite the Premier League now having five spots for next year's Champions League, and United being ten points clear of sixth, Senne Lammens refuses to say that it is over yet.

“I mean we did a good job today but it’s not there yet, we’re not finished yet, and as well, even if we get it [Champions League qualification], we still want to win those last remaining games. Of course that’s the first goal, but the next goal is also to keep looking up, and you never know.”

After such an unpredictable season so far, it is smart to sit on the fence about Manchester United's Champions League hopes; however, it is clear that they are in the best position, bar Manchester City and Arsenal.