Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea’s remarkable 4-3 comeback against Manchester United was an important day for improving the connection with the fans.
Chelsea initially cruised into a 2-0 lead with goals from Conor Gallagher and a Cole Palmer penalty, but United hit back with a quick-fire double at the end of the first half through Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
Garnacho grabbed his second to put United 3-2 ahead in the second half but on 99 minutes, Erik ten Hag’s side capitulated. Palmer converted a second penalty after Diogo Dalot’s rash challenge on Noni Madueke and deep into stoppage time, the Englishman grabbed his first Chelsea hat-trick to snatch the win in an extraordinary end to the game.
The result sees Man Utd remain in sixth, nine points behind Tottenham in fifth. Chelsea move up into the top half of the table in 10th place. If Pochettino’s side win their game in hand on United, they will go within just two points of them.
Pochettino marvelled at the resilience shown by his team and said it was a crucial day for growing closer to the fanbase.
He said: “It was amazing. We deserved it, we were the better team. It was a fair result. If you see everything we started the game in control and we made a mistake. We suffered an emotional impact.
“In the second half again we controlled the game again. We suffered in transition. In these situations we should have been better.
“In the end, it was a fair result. For the connection with the fans it is an important day. It should be a turning point.
