Mauricio Pochettino claims Chelsea lacked power against Manchester United after having 10 men against Brighton at the weekend.
Chelsea were beaten at Old Trafford when two goals from Scott McTominay secured a 2-1 win for the hosts.
Robert Sanchez made several saves, adding a penalty to Bruno Fernandes, which allowed Chelsea to equalise just before half-time through Cole Palmer.
But when asked why his side were ruled out on Wednesday night, Pochettino said Conor Gallagher’s red card in the first half of the weekend might have played a role, but admitted United were the bigger team.
He said: “At first it was tricky, they showed huge energy. Maybe it affected us because we played on Sunday with a [player] down for 60 minutes with similar players.
“Maybe it’s difficult for us to start the game the way we wanted to. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why we didn’t start the game well.
“This type of game is difficult to assess because of the importance of an extra day for Manchester [United] and for us to play 60 minutes with one player less. In this situation, we lacked a bit of power from Manchester United. beginning. “
“My feeling that they were bigger than us and that they deserved to win. “
Pochettino cut a calmer figure after yet another defeat despite seeing his Chelsea side booed by sections of the away support after such a limp performance.
It’s a far cry from the anger he had shown after the 4-1 defeat at Newcastle.
“It’s like a few weeks and months ago; we need our position in the table, of course, but, at the same time, it’s true that we played well until Newcastle, then against Brighton and, today, against Newcastle.
“I’m not worried because there are too many circumstances. We have to say why we don’t play.
“We are a project and not going to say what we were saying from the beginning of the season. We knew that with all the players fit, it was going to be difficult.
“Now, with part of the team out, it’s difficult to raise the level, very, very complicated. It’s hard to talk, it’s not fair, but it’s the reality. We want players who are under a lot of pressure to perform, and it’s almost time to do that.
He added: “It’s already the same [as Newcastle] because we’re short players. I think we played Brighton with one player less for forty-five minutes. You can also see that our bench is young.
“It’s an excuse, but if we have to talk, we have to talk to reality. I’m disappointed because they gave it their all. “
“Yes, we didn’t have the power and they were more competitive than us, but we were competitive and created enough chances to tie the game.
“We lost 2-1 and we got nothing so that might be where we get critics and people finding different reasons why we didn’t win. But we need to be calm and keep going.”
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