Enzo Maresca must find Kaoru Mitoma visually repulsive. One week after he sent them sliding out of the FA Cup, a stunning display of control from the Japan winger to score the first goal set up another unforgettable triumph for Brighton and stacked more pressure on the Chelsea manager.
Cole Palmer suffered another tiresome night labouring as a false 9 before having to be cajoled to welcome those travelling supporters who stayed at the conclusion, meaning a third defeat in their previous four outings. After Yankuba Minteh had made it 2-0 before half-time, Maresca occasionally appeared bewildered on the touchline as he watched his side battle to reply.
Minteh’s second
Minteh’s second of the night destroyed any hope for a return, and had Mitoma, João Pedro or Joël Veltman taken late opportunities, it could have become a Valentine’s Day carnage. But with Fabian Hürzeler’s team moving to within six points of his expensively formed squad, the Chelsea boss will be wondering where the next win is coming from after suffering his toughest loss since taking over in the summer.
Maresca, whose team did not even register a shot on target, stated we must show greater desire. “We are angry and really sad for the supporters. With fourteen games left, you cannot present this kind of performance right now. The terrible sense is that we are giving up too many possibilities and not generating enough; the fans have a right to be offended. Here is a time when we should hang together.
Maresca brushed off criticism from some supporters this week after stating that their departure from the FA Cup meant they could concentrate on the Premier League, insisting qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2022 would return the club back to where they “belong”. On this data, they will be lucky to return to the Conference League following season. The Chelsea manager told Sky Sports, “probably since I arrived, that is [our] worst performance”.
Recalling Filip Jörgensen instead of Robert Sánchez in goal meant the home supporters had one less former player to object at. But they picked up where they left off last week anytime Marc Cucurella or Moisés Caicedo touched the ball.
