Pochettino admits Gusto's studs-up challenge on Willian was 'maybe' a red card

Mauricio Pochettino admitted Chelsea youngster Malo Gusto was 'maybe' lucky to avoid being sent off against Fulham on Saturday after a reckless challenge.

Gusto went flying in on former Blues winger Willian when the match was still goalless and lunged in studs up on the Brazilian while also making contact with his shin.

Willian was left in agony as a result of the challenge and a red card would not have been out of place, but the 20-year-old escaped with just a yellow meaning he avoids a four-match ban.

Fulham manager Marco Silva felt aggrieved that Chelsea hadn't been reduced to 10-men before going on to score minutes later as Cole Palmer's penalty strike was enough to win the Premier League encounter.

Chelsea boss Pochettino didn't go as far as siding with Silva's point of view, but did admit there was a possibility Gusto could have been sent off for his dangerous tackle.

'It was a challenge, a difficult one for the referees and VAR. We've already suffered some sending offs for actions like this,' he told BBC Sport.

'I'm not going to say nothing, I accept and understand that it was maybe a red card. I don't want to say too much because I've not seen all the angles.

'That is football though, sometimes it is for you and sometimes it isn't,' he added.

VAR didn't overturn the initial yellow card shown to Gusto by referee Anthony Taylor and Pochettino further explained he would have felt annoyed if he was in the opposite dugout.

'Yellow card because it was a yellow card,' he said afterwards. 'Remember against Aston Villa it was a red card, I didn't complain about that. Today it was a yellow card.

'I have a very good relationship with (Marco Silva), he's a great person and coach. If I'm put in his place, I'm going to tell you it was