Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Graham Potter pinpoints why Chelsea let guard down for Man Utd equaliser, denying his side deserved to win

Graham Potter on the Chelsea touchline

Graham Potter thought the draw between Chelsea and Manchester United was a fair reflection of the match despite the feeling that they may have thrown away the win.

Potter’s unbeaten start to his time on the Chelsea touchline continued on Saturday. Although for the second game in a row, it was because of a draw, rather than a win. Manchester United cancelled them out with a 1-1 result at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea looked on course to claim all three points after Jorginho converted a penalty in the 87th minute of the match, which came as a result of Scott McTominay clumsily dragging Armando Broja down.

However, their joy was short lived. Casemiro went on to equalise for Manchester United in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a looping header that just beat Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Hence, both sides had to settle for a point each. It is obviously enough for Chelsea to stay above their opponents in the Premier League table; they currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot.

However, they could have earned an even stronger grip on the position. Come the end of the season, they will hope to not have to look back on this game as one where they threw points away unnecessarily.

Though for Potter – who felt the need to make a tactical substitution within the first half, when he took Marc Cucurella off for Mateo Kovacic – the outcome of the game was probably correct.

Indeed, he acknowledged why his side may have lost some concentration in the closing stages to concede the equaliser.

Graham Potter pleased with Chelsea response to shaky start

Potter told BBC Sport: “Lots of positives in terms of the amount of effort the boys put into the game. Manchester United were better than us for the first 30 minutes and we had to respond and I felt we did that.

“It wasn’t from a lack of trying. The boys gave everything. When you score as late as you do there is a feeling you’ve dropped points. But over the course of the game a point is probably about right.

“When we scored, because of how hard fought it has been it is hard to control things going into the box. We have to accept the point and dust ourselves down to go again on Tuesday.

“I can’t stand here and say we deserved to win. The two teams had a go and a point is about right.”

Chelsea will next be in action against RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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