Following our head coach’s disappointment at the performance in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Burnley, Mauricio Pochettino had plenty of reason to celebrate on Thursday night, when Chelsea completed an incredible late victory over Manchester United.

Having initially led 2-0 inside 20 minutes, including Conor Gallagher’s opener after five minutes, we then found ourselves moments away from losing to the Red Devils, until Cole Palmer completed his hat-trick deep into added time to secure a 4-3 win.

Unsurprisingly it is the latter of those two performances, or the start and finish of it at least, which Pochettino is hoping to replicate when we travel to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United on Sunday.

‘In a few days, we played one game where we showed such low energy. In another, we started the game in the way that we need to start every game,' he said.

‘I think that for the players it is a good point to realise we need to be ready. On Sunday, we need to be ready. We need to think about recovering and approaching the game in Sheffield with the right mentality, because it’s going to be tough.

‘We already know that when we play against teams like Sheffield United, Burnley or Nottingham Forest, the teams that are battling relegation, we need to match their energy, desire and hunger. It is going to be a good opportunity if we are improving.’

Pochettino credits the discussions held between staff and players at our Cobham training ground over the last week for the step up in performance against the Red Devils, and he expects that improvement to continue.

‘I think the effect of the meetings after Burnley should help us be in the right place now. We will be thinking it is going to be really tough. We need to respect Sheffield [United], respect ourselves, and match them in their energy. That is up to us.

‘If we are clever and smart, we are going to use the experience to improve. We have to be consistent and perform, then win or lose that is football. But if you’re at the right level and prepare yourself to compete, we have the capacity and quality to be close to winning.’

Last night's victory left us five points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and just two away from West Ham United in seventh in the table in the race for European qualification, having played less games than both those sides.

However, with nine matches remaining for Chelsea in this season's Premier League, it is only the next one which has our head coach's attention at this stage.

‘It’s about Sheffield United, Sheffield United, Sheffield United. It’s about three points in Sheffield. If we want to be close to qualifying for Europe it’s about winning.

‘To be consistent is the most important thing. We have nine games left to play and if we win all of those, then of course we will be in Europe.

‘But it’s only about Sheffield United, that is now the most important game.’