Conceding late to Chelsea feels like defeat, says Juan Mata

Chelsea striker Diego Costa scored an injury-time equalizer to earn his side a dramatic draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in what was an entertaining clash between the two English giants. After having an earlier curling effort turned wide by Courtois, the 23-year-old grabbed his third Premier League goal of the season and one to savor. Last time the Blues lost was to Leicester back in December (the match which cost Jose Mourinho his job).

Former Chelsea man Juan Mata was left annoyed by Manchester United’s failure to win at Stamford Bridge.

United dictated large parts of the game, making an assertive start at Stamford Bridge, passing with precision and speed across the field.

United dominated the opening exchanges, with Chelsea struggling to get out of their own half.

But Chelsea laid siege to the visitors’ goal in the closing stages and gradually wore down the United defence, with Costa scoring the equaliser in the second of six additional minutes.

Mata brought the young United left-back, who seems to possess strong crossing ability, into the game repeatedly and was near faultless in possession.

It was hard for the hosts to take after their first-half appeal for a penalty had been brushed aside by referee Michael Oliver, the official uninterested in John Terry’s claim his shot had been blocked by Daley Blind’s arm.

“We played very good football”, Mata told Sky Sports afterwards on Sunday.

A draw may have been disheartening for Van Gaal’s team, but Chelsea deserved credit for responding to going behind by turning the tide and ramping up the pressure on United. Helped by arrivals off the bench, Chelsea upped their game and tested De Gea through Branislav Ivanovic and Fabregas.

Chelsea started to wake up closer to the half-time whistle but De Gea was able to keep the game goalless.

“The players are down at the minute after conceding late on, but we need to lift ourselves for next weekend now”. In this wild Premier League season, Chelsea will have to be content that the breaks went their way today, and hope for better results next time out.

“We had four games without a win – when you play at the top that’s a long period, so your confidence drops a little bit”, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Hiddink now thinks it is unlikely Chelsea will finish in the Premier League top four and also believes they have a huge task ahead of them against runaway French league leaders Paris St Germain when they meet in the last 16 over the next few weeks. I said what I had to say, that’s how it is.