Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that his side were deserved 4-3 winners over Manchester United on Thursday night, even though it took one of the most remarkable endings in Premier League history.
Prior to the contest at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino had described the fixture as a must-win if Chelsea want to retain genuine hope of qualifying for Europe next season.
Goals from Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer put the Blues two goals to the good inside 20 minutes before a mistake from Moises Caicedo enabled Alejandro Garnacho to halve the deficit.
United were soon level through a well-made Bruno Fernandes goal, and the comeback was complete in the second half after Garnacho headed his side in front, helped by an outrageous pass from Antony.
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Although United reached the eighth and final minute of added-on time with a lead, they somehow lost the game, with Palmer initially equalising from the spot after Diogo Dalot had clipped Noni Madueke inside the penalty area.
With 100 minutes and 39 seconds on the clock, Palmer completed his hat-trick, seeing a deflected shot from the edge of the area deceive Andre Onana and find the back of the net.
The game concluded with a total of 47 shots on goal, the second most in the last nine Premier League seasons and four fewer than the 51 from Chelsea's game with Burnley on Saturday.
Despite United having nine fewer attempts than their hosts, Erik ten Hag has insisted that the visitors would have been justified winners.
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What did Pochettino say?
Pochettino disagreed with the opinion of his opposite number, telling reporters: "It was amazing because we deserved it. We were the better team and it was fair to score in the last minute.
"We started the game really well and the game was under control. We then made a mistake which had an emotional impact and it wasn't easy to deal with this. In the second-half, we controlled the game and then conceded in transition.
"If you analyse the game, fair result. An important, in the end, to finish in the way we finished – creating the connection between the fans and the players."
UNBELIEVABLE!! 🔥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2024
Cole Palmer steals the show to complete his hat trick and put Chelsea back in the lead! 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/2zEcknYHCD
In sharp contrast to his generally calm manner, Pochettino and his backroom staff embraced the pandemonium that followed Palmer's match-clinching goal, feeling that his conduct on the touchline throughout the game was appropriate.
The Argentine added, as quoted by football.london: "Passion is not to be a crazy guy doing stupid things on the touchline. I'm not like this. The team needs to show passion when it's 11 players on the pitch, running and desperate to get the ball back and score goals.
"I need to be calm, very clinical and analytic to help them in every aspect of the game. At the end of the game, of course show your passion like I did. But it's not a circus where you need a clown to do something on the touchline."
Victory for Chelsea has moved the club into 10th position in the Premier League standings, five points adrift of sixth-placed United with a game in hand.
There is also a two-point deficit to West Ham United in seventh spot, with the Hammers having also played two games more than Chelsea.
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