Chelsea were not pretty but will likely be champions. Manchester United at times oozed with aesthetic qualities, but proved themselves short of the exacting standards that will be required if they should meet their pretensions of becoming English football's best team.
Their time may come, and there were signs that they might soon be capable of duking it out with Chelsea, but the final result was a lesson served by an opponent whose success lies in getting matches won with optimum efficiency.
Jose Mourinho's team are making an art form of the 1-0 win. The manager saw perfection in his team's victory.