Enzo Maresca has opened up on the bizarre first half against Manchester United on Saturday evening that saw him make three substitutions, including subbing talisman Cole Palmer.
Chelsea could not have got off to a worse start on the day, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez clumsily clattering into Bryan Mbeumo just three minutes in, forcing referee Peter Bankes to show the red card.
"The red card changed the game after three minutes," Maresca told BBC Sport following the game.
Three substitutions followed - Estevao, Pedro Neto and Palmer were all hooked - and Chelsea were at sixes and sevens at the back as the new-look defence tried to acclimatise to chaotic opening moments.
But the Red Devils capitalised on the defensive confusion, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro both grabbing a goal before the break.
Maresca lifted the lid on the tactical decision to withdraw their attacking options, citing his desire to stick with a defensive shape of five.
Enzo Maresca has opened up on the bizarre first half against Manchester United on Saturday evening that saw him make three substitutions, including subbing talismam Cole Palmer
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"They attack with five players, so the idea was to defend with five players. You can defend with four at 11 v 11," he explained.
"The game probably changed after they conceded the red card, also with Casemiro. We were much better."
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Cole Palmer was hauled off as a result of the red card | GETTYWhile Palmer has been suffering with a groin injury of late, the star man was deemed fit to start but was brought off after just 21 minutes.
"Cole this morning, did a test to play this game. He was not 100 per cent. It was a fantastic effort for the club, for his team-mates, for the team. Unfortunately, he was not 100 per cent," Maresca said.
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"We need to start the game better. We cannot concede a red card at Old Trafford after three minutes."
Despite a nightmare first half, it ended positively for Chelsea when Casemiro was ordered to follow Robert Sanchez down the tunnel after he pulled back midfielder Andrey Santos.
"After the red card for them, 10 v 10, it changed the game for us. We needed to start in a better way.
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Trevoh Chalobah grabbed a goal to give the visitor's hope of an unlikely point
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"It's a red card."
The second half saw a vastly improved Chelsea side, with the Blues ending with the ball in the back of the net twice.
Wesley Fofana was denied his fourth goal in Chelsea blue by the offside flag, but Trevoh Chalobah's towering header was deemed legal and made for an anxious final 10 minutes in Old Trafford.
It was, ultimately, too much to ask for Maresca's side, who succumbed to their first Premier League defeat of the season.
It leaves the Blues with two wins from five, the same as United, and sixth in the table at this early stage.
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