Bruno Fernandez gave the hosts a lead on less than an hour of plays, and Chelsea failed to put the troubled side of Reuben Amorim under actual pressure, so Casemiro doubled the hosts’ lead before halftime.
Chalova went home to set a grandstand finish, but Chelsea didn’t bother United again, and the defenders lamented the start of his team’s game.
“With the red cards that occur, it’s always difficult for the teams to come back at 2-0 in the game, and we struggled with the first half.
“It’s always hard to get down to the 10 men. You can see United keeping it up. They’re under pressure. That wasn’t enough for our end. We couldn’t make it to the first half.
“This kind of thing happens in the season. We can’t say we’re kids anymore. We’re playing in the Premier League now, and we need to learn and move forward.
“We were lucky they got the red card so it was a little easier in the second half. We still had some chances, but it’s always difficult, 2-0, whether it’s 10 men vs 10 men.
“We pushed and pushed, but it’s about how you start the game. That’s the most important thing in a football game: how you impose yourself.
“That’s something that we have to reflect on the last two games and Brentford as well. We haven’t started the biggest game. We’re making sure we’re imposing ourselves in the game for the first 15-20 minutes. We need to raise it as a group.”
Maresca: Why Palmer’s early fitness changes
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca admitted that his game plan went “to the bin” after Sanchez’s red card, and made him three alternatives before 21 minutes passed.
Among those withdrawn was Cole Palmer, who scored twice in two matches for his side before Saturday’s match. fellow attack outlets Estevao and Pedro Neto also made their way early.
Explaining the change, Maresca said Palmer means that not perfect match fitness, and that numerical disadvantages must be emphasized more.
“They’re used to attacking five players, so at that moment we have to defend with five players,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “We can absolutely defend four when we’re 11-11, but when we’re one player, the idea was to defend five.
“We decided to change with Estevao and Pedro Neto, and after changing the call as he made an effort to play this game because he wasn’t 100% fit.
“He took the test this morning and he was OK, but he didn’t fit 100%. So I decided to change him after 20 minutes.”
Chelsea return to action against League One Side Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, with United facing Brentford on Saturday.
