Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has called on his players to step up after a far from convincing 3-2 win against Brighton.
The Blues overcame the first half sending off of captain Conor Gallagher to race into a 3-1 lead shortly after the halftime interval.
An Enzo Fernandez brace sandwiched a goal from former Brighton loanee Levi Colwill to put Chelsea in a commanding position. Substitute Joao Pedro scored late on to give the Seagulls some hope, but they could not find an equaliser and went away pointless.
When asked whether Gallagher deserved to get his marching orders from referee Craig Pawson, the Argentine believed it was the incorrect decision.
“He shouldn’t have been sent off, that is my opinion and maybe I am wrong. He was trying to win the ball back and this type of thing happens.
“We are a young team and we need to improve and learn the Premier League is the best league in the world.
“We need to live and to feel what it means to play in the Premier League and we showed after Newcastle that we can play and that we care and wanted to win the game.”
Some of the younger players in the Blues squad showed their naivety, which included a lengthy post-match scuffle between both sets of players. However Pochettino was proud of the mentality of his players after their poor showing against Newcastle last weekend.
“I feel very proud because after the Newcastle game it was very tough and a team like Brighton are difficult to play and the first 20-25 minutes we were controlling the game.
“We were a little bit flat before we conceded and then with Gallagher out but we scored another goal. But we are Chelsea and we play to win and the position we are now is not easy for the players.
“That is why I am so proud of the character we have shown. It was a massive challenge and this was a very good win.”
