Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's head coach, did not mince words following their disheartening 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. The February 14 clash was particularly bitter for Chelsea, coming on the back of their FA Cup exit to the same opponent just a week prior. Maresca described the performance as the worst Chelsea has displayed since he took the helm, reflecting a growing frustration with their current form.
The match showcased Brighton’s prowess and Chelsea’s deficiencies, with Kaoru Mitoma dazzling fans with a breathtaking first-half goal. The situation only worsened for Chelsea as Yankuba Minteh found the net twice, culminating in a definitive win for the Seagulls. It wasn’t just the defensive lapses that concerned Maresca; offensively, the team was toothless.
The absence of injured strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu was clearly felt, as Chelsea failed to make any shot on target, albeit controlling the majority of possession. Maresca, visibly upset, voiced his disappointment: ‘My frustration was about everything. We feel sorry for the fans that came. In the position that we are, arriving with 14 games to go, we need to do much better.’
This latest defeat leaves Chelsea precariously perched at fourth on the Premier League table, with 43 points, while their recent lackluster performances have seen them win just two of their last nine matches. In contrast, Brighton's victory elevates them to eighth with 37 points, as they continue to make steady progress up the rankings.
Fans and pundits are beginning to question if Chelsea will manage to hold onto their top-four position, which seemed a certainty earlier in the season. The pressure is mounting on Maresca and his misfiring squad as they hope to regain form before the fixture list tightens. With only 14 games remaining, every fixture will be crucial in determining how the season unfolds for the Blues.