Of all the unbelievable finales involving Man United this season, their defeat at Chelsea defied belief more than any other.

Following Brentford’s downturn, a resurgence unfolded, but not for Manchester United.

In what seemed more fitting for the West End than West London, United showcased their captivating and spirited best until Diogo Dalot’s clumsy foul on Noni Madueke in the 96th minute.

Throughout United’s 90-minute matches this season, there have been 26 goals scored from the 80th minute onwards. Now, that tally stands at 28, with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer securing the latest two.

Palmer endured taunts of “City reject” from United fans. If only the Wythenshawe-born Red had turned down City. It’s lamentable that United allowed him to slip away. Palmer now joins the select few who have managed a hat-trick against them.

Equally condemnable is Manchester United’s recurring tendency to concede late goals and in quick succession. Following a 99th-minute equalizer against Andre Onana at Brentford, goals followed swiftly in the 110th and 111th minutes.

Mauricio Pochettino and his team stormed onto the pitch in celebration, while Erik ten Hag retreated down the tunnel without exchanging handshakes. Any lingering doubts about United’s Champions League credentials are now dispelled; this squad lacks the requisite mentality.

Even amidst one of United’s more commendable performances in a chaotic campaign, this match serves as evidence to support the ‘Ten Hag out’ narrative. Familiar defensive lapses led to conceding goals, yet again proving fatal in the dying moments. Antony’s visible emotional reaction at the final whistle underscores the disappointment.

Despite resounding support from the away fans at the Shed End, United’s performance, while showcasing glimpses of the “process” Ten Hag mentioned in his pre-match press conference, ultimately resulted in one of their most disheartening outcomes.

United’s penchant for 3-2 comebacks from 2-0 down appeared to be on display once more. Encouraging elements persisted even when trailing 2-0 to Chelsea, highlighting resilience amidst defensive setbacks and the introduction of 19-year-old Willy Kambwala for a baptism of fire.

Ten Hag has stretched it at times by lamenting United’s lucklessness and they were cut a thick slice by Moises Caicedo. Come added time, United were “Ole”ing. Palmer was reduced to hatchet man tactics on Dalot. Harry Maguire told Dalot to “stay down”. Instead, he brought Madueke down.

How the exhibition fare must have motivated Palmer. Even in a season laden with finales that defied belief, this was the most unbelievable involving United. Arsenal, Fulham and Chelsea have beaten them via stoppage-time goals.

It will be of little consolation to Ten Hag that United’s followers saw the best of them throughout the night. Casemiro held Ten Hag in a clinch after Alejandro Garnacho stopped short of crowd surfing in the away end. Maguire professionally eschewed the celebrations for a touchline conflab.

Garnacho urged the United supporters to extol Antony. This was the Brazilian’s best performance yet in a United shirt and his recall was instrumental. Little wonder he was crestfallen at the conclusion.

It is far too premature to herald this as a changing of the guard but Ten Hag must privately savour Antony’s impact in the absence of the dropped Marcus Rashford. Ten Hag claimed Rashford’s demotion was rotational but his name is bound to be among the substitutes against Liverpool again on Sunday.

For Knightsbridge resident and one-time Chelsea season-ticket holder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, this was as much of a home game as at Old Trafford. He was accompanied by Old Trafford task-forcer and Chelsea supporter Sebastian Coe, which would have made for lively conversation in the directors’ lounge.

Palmer, a left-footed right-sided forward on United’s doorstep, was gifted a second goal against them by the right winger United invested €100million in. This proved to be one of Antony’s finest nights in the red shirt and his gusto drew ripples of applause more than once from the away section. The exceptional Palmer had the last word.

Ten Hag moaned at Aaron Wan-Bissaka, back at right back, for losing an aerial duel with Mykhailo Mudryk and soon the problems were on the other side. Dalot beckoned Garnacho to track back and soon United were conceding from another pull-back. Conor Gallagher’s shot was another saveable conceded by Andre Onana.

The quiet Wan-Bissaka and Antony are an odd couple yet they have shown greater promise as a pairing than Portuguese speakers Dalot and Antony. The communication between the left-sided Latinos was awry for Conor Gallagher’s opening goal. United had three monitors installed in their dugout and the repeats would have made for uncomfortable viewing from every angle.

United coach Steve McClaren offered Wan-Bissaka some tidbits after Axel Disasi lost him for a corner. Wan-Bissaka was not entirely responsive and McClaren soon consulted one of the United analysts.

Disasi’s wayward header at 2-0 was pivotal. Caicedo unwittingly assisted Garnacho and soon United were as dominant as their ardent followers in the Shed End. Bruno Fernandes finished a brilliant team goal started by Onana and Chelsea’s 2-0 lead was extinguished within five minutes.

Wan-Bissaka and Antony’s unlikely alliance resumed and the latter, impressive in the reverse fixture in December, vindicated his recall despite naively conceding a penalty by fouling Marc Cucurella. The Brazilian salvaged a lost cause prior to Caicedo’s error and switched the play expertly for Dalot to assist Fernandes.

Pochettino, once destined to manage United, could not bear to watch when he realised the recipient of Caicedo’s pass did not wear blue. Ten Hag briefly looked condemned in the technical area and soon the unpopular Pochettino appeared strained. The two bickered over the referee’s refusal to book Maguire for an apparently deliberate foul.

United’s first-half momentum was almost halted at the death again by Gallagher, who struck the post at 2-2. Maguire implored the United bench to substitute the struggling Raphael Varane as Jonny Evans paced up and down the touchline. Evans’s arrival was delayed until the second half and Varane made way at the pause for the second match running, inviting more scrutiny on the United manager and medical staff. Evans was forced off after 20 minutes.