Poch praises 'tired' Chelsea players in 'crazy' Brighton win

Mauricio Pochettino admitted his team were left tired after an eventful 3-2 win over Brighton in the Premier League.

The hosts started the game superbly at Stamford Bridge, racing into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill.

But Brighton hit back through Facundo Buonanotte, before Conor Gallagher was sent off on the stroke of half-time.

10-man Chelsea did enough in the second half, though, with Fernandez scoring from the penalty spot to extend their lead until Joao Pedro's late consolation.

Pochettino said: "Crazy. It’s the most competitive league.

"We started well, we were playing well 11 vs 11. It was a complicated second half with one less player.

"Brighton are a very good team and are playing well. We had to go deep but we scored the third goal with one man less.

"The team is tired, we are all tired, but overall happy.

"After Newcastle, we needed to show a different face. That’s why I’m happy."

On Gallagher's red card and the use of VAR during the game, he added: "I don’t believe it was [a red card]. I need to see it again. We need to understand the referees but they need to understand us.

"Why did they give the penalty and then check VAR [for the Colwill handball]? It is difficult to understand why.

"It is not to complain, to criticise. Why was the penalty of Mudryk waiting for VAR and he gave the handball? It is so weird the way we use VAR sometimes.

"But we need to be happy after a win."