Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admitted his side’s game plan was ripped apart just minutes into the match against Manchester United, after Robert Sánchez was sent off in the opening stages.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Maresca didn’t hold back on how costly the moment was: “Very difficult because after three or four minutes with the red card, it completely changed the game. All the plan is in the bin. So it was very complicated.”

Maresca was left frustrated that the team got a huge disadvantage early in the game from a situation he prepared the team for – in a match Chelsea were aiming to get all three points.

He went on: “It’s a situation that we can avoid because we knew these kind of long balls for Sesko, they try to flick for Mbeumo. We knew that.

“Unfortunately we conceded that moment. When you are one player down, it becomes completely difficult and changed the game.”