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Premier League | Gameweek 20

Dec 30, 2023 at 12.30pm UK

Kenilworth Road Stadium

Luton
2 - 3
Chelsea

Barkley (80'), Adebayo (87')
Brown (27'), Mengi (77')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Palmer (12', 70'), Madueke (37')
Disasi (87'), Gusto (90+4')

Mauricio Pochettino: 'Chelsea must build resolve after Luton Town scare'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 30 December 2023

Pochettino: 'Chelsea must build resolve after Luton scare'

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino says that his Chelsea side must improve when it comes to managing winning scenarios after they edged out Luton Town in the Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that his Chelsea side 'need to go deeper' to see out games in the Premier League after edging past Luton Town.

The Blues made the short trip to Kenilworth Road on the back of four successive away defeats, undermining the improvements that they have recently made at Stamford Bridge.

However, Chelsea responded by showing a ruthless streak against Luton, establishing a 3-0 lead by the 70-minute mark, before Luton mounted a thrilling comeback in the closing quarter.

The Hatters battered Djordje Petrovic's goal and deservedly scored through Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo, but Chelsea managed to see out the remainder of the contest for all three points.

While Luton left the pitch to a standing ovation, a number of Chelsea players looked frustrated, aware that they had almost let slip two points when the game appeared over as a contest.

Although Pochettino gave credit to Luton, the Argentine admitted that he wanted to see more from his team in order to guarantee that they seal a maximum return on a regular basis.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their first goal on December 30, 2023 © Reuters

Speaking to BBC Sport, Pochettino said: "It is the Premier League. It is the toughest league in the world. Luton are very good. They are building something very good and we need to give credit to Luton. We can see how they perform and never give up. I think we played really well until we conceded. Then they increased in belief.

"In the first half we controlled very well, second half we started to concede crosses and corners. For us at 3-0 the game looks over but in the Premier League it is never over.

"We need to show more capacity to manage this type of situation. When you have something in your hands you don't want to lose it and you go deeper."

Ahead of the remainder of the weekend's fixtures, Chelsea remain in 10th position but have temporarily moved to within five points of sixth-placed West Ham United.

Chelsea now play just one top-flight fixture across the next month - that coming against Fulham on January 13 - but they will be in FA Cup and EFL Cup action during January.

Preston North End are the visitors to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round on January 6, while they face a two-legged semi-final versus Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup.