It is probably safe not to take Mauricio Pochettino’s description of himself as a university professor seriously. When this mess of a game was over Professor Poch was on the pitch, any illusion of thoughtfulness disappearing as he had a go at the officials, the elbow patches on his blazer well and truly off. Perhaps it is time for Todd Boehly to install a creche at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino was in charge of a class of unruly children during a performance that began with Chelsea in control and ended with Levi Colwill almost giving away a penalty in the 110th minute, tempers boiling over and Brighton almost snatching an unlikely point as chaos reigned.
Control? Composure? Forget about it. Chelsea have the worst disciplinary record in the top flight and were almost too intense in their pursuit of their fourth Premier League home win in 2023. They were up for a fight after their collapse against Newcastle but were down to 10 men when their captain, Conor Gallagher, got himself sent off just before half-time. Pochettino loved his young side’s spirit. He needs to fix the naivety, though.
Pochettino stated that there are several players who have yet to experience playing in the Premier League, but he supported Gallagher and highlighted the team’s strengths. The team aimed to display their true abilities and demonstrate their passion. This was exemplified by Thiago Silva’s crucial tackle as Brighton attempted to score a tying goal. Robert Sánchez also made key saves, but tensions rose between the teams after the game ended. Pochettino emphasized that being part of the team goes beyond just playing on the field, and this match served as a necessary challenge for the team.
Chelsea was in need of some luck as well. Brighton was angry about the VAR decision that led to Enzo Fernández scoring the winning goal for the home team from a penalty kick. Later, they were disappointed when Colwill was called for a handball while Chelsea was protecting their 3-2 lead in extra time. However, upon review, it was revealed that the ball had actually hit the left-back in the face.
Roberto De Zerbi went from being ecstatic to feeling let down, but he decided not to voice any grievances about Chelsea receiving a penalty for James Milner’s tackle on Mykhailo Mudryk. The Italian manager stated, “I prefer not to comment on the referee’s decision. I didn’t witness the incident and I have to respect every call.”
De Zerbi admitted that Brighton let in foolish goals. Chelsea retaliated to Pochettino’s frustration following their 4-1 loss to Newcastle. Pochettino made four alterations, leaving out Cole Palmer, and addressed a lack of full-backs by selecting Axel Disasi as the right-back.
Chelsea showed great dedication. Brighton, suffering from multiple injuries and exhaustion after a Thursday away win against AEK Athens, struggled to keep up. Chelsea had no trouble dominating through midfield. Despite facing boos from the opposing fans, Moisés Caicedo maintained control. Fernández proved to be difficult to catch. Raheem Sterling put Brighton to the test on the right side.
The turning point occurred when Gallagher took a corner kick. Benoît Badiashile received the ball and skillfully kicked it into the six-yard box. Brighton’s defense was weakened without Lewis Dunk. No one attempted to prevent Fernández from scoring his first goal in the Premier League.
In a short amount of time, the score became 2-0. Gallagher’s corner kick was headed by Nicolas Jackson back into the center, and Colwill managed to push the ball over the goal line. This marked the 20-year-old’s first goal for the team and it appeared that Chelsea was dominating, but the atmosphere shifted when Facundo Buonanotte was found by Adam Lallana. Facing Colwill alone, the winger skillfully cut inside and curved a magnificent shot that went past Sánchez.
Chelsea had a chance to take the lead when Mudryk came close, but their lack of experience caused them to falter. With one less player on the field, Gallagher, who was lucky to only receive a yellow card for a foul on Buonanotte, lost control and received a second booking for bringing down former Chelsea player Gilmour from behind.
Ignore the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
Please keep in mind that Reece James, who is the captain of the club, was already unable to play after receiving a red card in the match against Newcastle. Pochettino is facing an issue. Silva took over as captain, but Caicedo received a yellow card for kicking the ball away. Chelsea seemed nervous. Caicedo was close to getting another booking, prompting De Zerbi to bring on Kaoru Mitoma, João Pedro, Pascal Gross, and Milner.
Brighton did not exert pressure on the 10-man team. Their determination was lacking and they lost their formation after a corner kick. Jackson passed to Mudryk, who was then brought down by Milner. The contact was minimal, simply a tangle of legs, but Craig Pawson awarded a penalty after reviewing the footage on the sideline monitor. Fernández furthered Chelsea’s advantage.
Chelsea retreated, allowing Brighton to continue pressing. Sánchez made a remarkable save from Gross, but Brighton managed to score when João Pedro headed in Milner’s corner. This caused Chelsea to feel anxious, but Colwill was able to avoid a potential mistake and Chelsea’s determination ultimately secured their victory.
Source: theguardian.com
