Mauricio Pochettino admitted his young Chelsea team need to “grow up” after falling to their third Premier League defeat of the season and seeing Malo Gusto sent-off against Aston Villa.
Gusto was dismissed after his yellow card was changed to a red by referee Jarred Gillett, following a Var review, while striker Nicolas Jackson will also serve a ban after picking up his fifth booking in six league appearances.
Down to 10 men, Chelsea conceded the winning goal, scored by Villa striker Ollie Watkins, from their own corner and Pochettino agreed that his team must show more maturity.
“We need to grow up like a team, not only in an individual way,” the Chelsea head coach said. “I think players like Nico who are so young and feeling the Premier League, and are learning, they need time.
“In this type of game, we are competing and want to win and football is about winning, but also players, when they are young, need to learn, and experience and make mistakes. That’s why we feel disappointed, as there are too many situations like this and, I agree with you, too many things like this. In the end, we lost the game and we are in a situation we need to change as soon as possible.”
On Gusto’s challenge on Lucas Digne, which saw the right-back sent-off, Pochettino added: “Being honest, it was in front of me but I didn’t see and now I still didn’t see. I can’t say it wasn’t a red card, we need to trust in the referees and Var. It’s difficult to judge because I didn’t see it.
“Of course, it’s our responsibility and the referee’s responsibility, we cannot blame Var or the referee. In this situation, we need to act in a different way. I’m not going to blame or say anything against Malo Gusto because some situations happen in football. That situation can affect the game in a negative way.”
Pochettino will now be without Gusto and Jackson in Chelsea’s next league game against Fulham, which they already need to win after securing just one victory from their opening six games and losing three times.
Chelsea have also failed to score in three successive league games and, asked how the situation can change, Pochettino said: “Work. Giving trust and then confidence. We have the squad that we have. We cannot change anything. We try to build the confidence and to give them all of the support that they need because they need to perform on the pitch.”
Watkins’ goal was his first in the league of the season and Villa head coach Unai Emery is hoping the club can tie the 27-year-old down to a new contract, with his current deal due to expire at the end of next season.
“I am concerned and we are working on it,” said Emery. “We are in touch. We are talking.
“He’s working hard every day in practice with his team-mates and he’s committed to the club and with his team-mates, he is amazing. We will need his goals and his quality. I’m happy for him and for us. His first objective is always his performance for the team and then helping us. This is the good mentality that we want.”
