Pochettino explains why Chelsea could not cope with ‘better’ Manchester United

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Manchester United deserved the three points and Chelsea ‘couldn’t match the energy’ during Wednesday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Old Trafford, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

This was the first time Pochettino and Erik ten Hag had gone head-to-head since that Champions League semi-final between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur back in 2019, Lucas Moura’s dramatic hat-trick sending tears of jubilation rolling down the Argentine’s face.

There were no tears from Ten Hag on Wednesday night. Barely even a smile broke his stony demeanour. But, make no mistake, this was a victory the embattled Manchester United boss needed, not only in scoreline but in style too.

Ten Hag, despite facing the sort of relentless criticism Pochettino continues to dodge, now has the Red Devils within three points of City and level with Ange Postecoglou’s media-darlings Tottenham Hotspur.

A team in crisis? It certainly didn’t look like it last night.

Manchester United beat Chelsea

Pochettino, who was considered for the Old Trafford job before Ten Hag got the gig, was left disappointed with the nature of his side’s display, insisting that a Chelsea side who played almost an hour with ten men on Sunday could not match their hosts intensity and desire.

“I am disappointed because we didn’t start the game well,” Pochettino tells the Chelsea website. “The feeling is that they started better than us, showing more energy than us. We couldn’t match the energy. I think they were better than us and there’s nothing I can say.”

If United had a more clinical streak, they would surely have equalled or even bettered their 4-1 hammering of Chelsea from late last season. Scott McTominay scored twice on the night but could have had four. Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty at 0-0. Antony and Alejandro Garnacho squandered presentable opportunities themselves.

Red Devils level with Tottenham

“The second-half, we started well. But then we conceded and again. I think we missed a little bit the energy to be more aggressive,” Pochettino adds, United’s fierce pressing and off-the-ball organisation vastly superior to that of their visitors.

“We had some chances but not enough to get back in the game again. But overall my feeling is that they were better than us and deserved the three points.

“They showed more energy and we didn’t match it.”