Every word Enzo Maresca said on Palmer injury, Sanchez red card and Chelsea defeat to Man Utd

Enzo Maresca has just completed his post-match press conference following Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Blues suffered their first defeat of the Premier League campaign with a horror show in the first-half largely responsible for them taking nothing from Manchester. Robert Sanchez was shown a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity for Bryan Mbeumo.

Bruno Fernandes gave United the lead not long after, before Casemiro - who later got sent off as well - doubled the home side's advantage. Maresca will undoubtedly be frustrated with what he saw from his players on an extremely wet evening in the north west.

Bobby Vincent has been in Manchester throughout the day and he has compiled everything Maresca had to say into a transcript:

What are your feelings on that and the way the game turned, your post-red card strategy, did you feel you had to change again after all those early substitutions?

For me personally, it's quite easy in terms of after three-four minutes, it was rough for the way the red card became difficult not only for Chelsea, it became difficult for any club. For sure we could have started the game better, then the red card gave us the chance to come back in the game. We had two-three moments inside the box [in the second-half], but all the game changed after the red card, all the planning and everything, it doesn't exist anymore.

What about Cole Palmer, was he injured or was that a tactic?

Cole, he tried this morning, he had a test this morning to play this game, he was not 100% fit, he made a fantastic effort to play this game, but he was not 100%.

Why did you make two subs after Robert Sanchez red card, and why did you not bring Alejandro Garnacho on?

The reason why we changed Pedro [Neto] and Estevao [Willian] was because they attack with the five players always, and we defend with the four, and we can defend with the four when we are 11 vs 11, but 11 against them, I think we need to defend on the width, so we decided to go with the back five, this is the reason why. And then the other one, Garna, he was ready to go on, but then Wes [Fofana] asked for the change, because he was tired after a long time, so we changed and we decided to go for Tyrique, and the idea was to give Garnacho minutes.

So it was nothing to do with the reception?

No, also because he was ready, and he was ready to go on, and then Wes asked for a change.

Is there a concern for Palmer's long-term fitness?

Yeah, it's a problem that it's already a long time for him, he's growing. Again, he did this morning a test, he wanted to play this game for the team, to be close, so the effort has been huge from him, but then after 20 minutes he started to feel something, so we decided to change him.

I just wondered, where was Josh Acheampong?

No, Josh is just because we had Tosin [Adarabioyo], Malo [Gusto] was on the bench also, we had already two defenders, so it was just for that, not for any other reason.

I realise it's a very quick decision that the goalkeeper has got to make there, but on the sideline, would you have preferred him not to have fouled the player and given the goal away, and you're one down with 11 men rather than 10?

It's the best solution, because we are still 95 minutes to play, I think even Robert is aware of that, but also it's difficult because he has to take a decision in one second or two seconds, so it's difficult. But if you ask me, I prefer to be one man down after three minutes than one player down after three minutes.