According to Chelsea’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the team’s insufficient intensity off the ball played a crucial role in their 2-2 draw with 10-man Burnley on Saturday.
Despite taking the lead twice at Stamford Bridge after Lorenz Assignon’s red card, courtesy of goals by Cole Palmer, the hosts were unable to maintain their advantage, as they were equalized by strikes from Josh Cullen and Dara O’Shea.
Despite Chelsea’s 33 shots, which included 13 on target, and an xG of 4.26, they only managed to secure a single point from their efforts.
Expressing his disappointment, Pochettino vented his frustration in the post-match press conference, criticizing the team’s handling of the situation in the second half. He highlighted Chelsea’s ability to create numerous chances when playing in possession and moving forward, although acknowledging they may not convert all opportunities.
“We need to improve our percentage in the games. After today, we didn’t show the capacity, the energy, the anger. Not the minimum to compete in the Premier League. In the defensive phase we concede too much.
“That is why I am so upset and disappointed. It’s more here [in your heart] and here [in your head] than in your legs to be strong like a group, to be strong like a team. That is sometimes the circumstance for different reasons we are so slow evolving in this area.
“That is the key today. It’s not to find excuses. The team played well, yes, we have energy, yes, we go forward, yes, but afterwards when we don’t have the ball we don’t have the same energy.
“Sorry, but I am not with the performance when we don’t have the ball. If we are able to create chances in the way we did and have the capacity to move and find all the different ways to penetrate a team that play with a very deep block.
“Yes, we need to accept that and recover the situation. On Thursday we have another game here [against Manchester United] and we need to be with all the energy to be competitive and clear our head now.”
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