Malo Gusto fires warning to Chelsea’s Premier League rivals and reacts to costly Reece James red card

Malo Gusto in action for Chelsea against Brighton (Picture: Getty)

Malo Gusto has warned Chelsea’s rivals that the Blues can be ‘one of the best teams in the Premier League’ next season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s reign as Chelsea boss started poorly with the team languishing in mid-table for much of the campaign, but the west Londoners have won four games in a row to climb to sixth ahead of the final day.

Chelsea’s impressive run of form has seen them leapfrog West Ham, Newcastle United and Manchester United in the Premier League and be on the verge of an unlikely European spot.

Pochettino’s side continued their encouraging form on Wednesday night, beating Brighton 2-1 to even give themselves an outside chance of catching fifth-placed Tottenham on the final day.

Gusto admits the team made a sluggish start to the campaign but says Chelsea can be one of the strongest teams in the Premier League next season given their resurgence under Pochettino.

The 20-year-old France international said: ‘We have a lot of talent. We know that. We can be one of the best teams in the Premier League.

‘This season was not very good for us and we know the start of the season was complicated but we need to finish in a good way and that’s what we’re doing.

Chelsea continued their impressive form against Brighton (Picture: Getty)

‘We have to be behind the coaching staff, that’s the most important thing. I think that’s why we improved more in the last few games. We just need to enjoy the game, stick together and finish the season well.’

The only disappointing aspect of Chelsea’s recent victory over Brighton was the red card shown to Reece James, who was making just his second appearance in 2024 on the south coast.

James – who made an assist in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, his first appearance since December – was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Joao Pedro.

Given it was James’ second red card of the season – his first came in the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle back in November – the England star has received a four-match suspension, meaning he will miss the final-day clash with Bournemouth and the first three games of next season.

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‘This season was complicated for Reece but we are a team and we have to just stay behind him and keep pushing with him,’ said Gusto, who has emerged as Chelsea’s first-choice right-back in James’ absence.

‘He’s very important for the team and he helps us a lot. Especially me, we talk a lot and I’m very happy to play with him.’

Pochettino was full of praise for his team after they won at the Amex Stadium and insisted he was ‘dreaming’ of taking Chelsea back into Europe next season.

Chelsea need a point at home to Bournemouth on Sunday to guarantee sixth place, while they will leapfrog Spurs into fifth if they win and Tottenham lost at Sheffield United.

‘It’s always very competitive, the Premier League is the toughest league in the world,’ Pochettino said. ‘Full credit to the players, we fully deserved the victory, that’s why I’m so happy and it allows us to dream to play in Europe next season.

‘We need to think about recovery and keep the mentality of going to win and see what happens. The most important thing is belief and performances and the performances and results are really good.

‘We dominated from the beginning against a team that’s not easy to play, that’s why we’re so proud and so happy. The evolution of the team is there.’

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