In a dismal showing on the south coast, Chelsea succumbed to a resounding 3-0 defeat at the hands of a rampant Brighton side on Friday evening. The loss marks the second time in a week that the Blues have been bested by Fabian Hurzeler’s impressive Seagulls outfit.
Maresca Bemoans ‘Worst Performance’
Speaking after the match, a visibly frustrated Enzo Maresca pulled no punches in his assessment of his team’s display. The Italian head coach labeled the loss as Chelsea’s “worst performance” since he took the reins at Stamford Bridge.
“My frustration was about everything,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “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.”
– Enzo Maresca, Chelsea Head Coach
The defeat leaves Chelsea clinging to fourth spot in the Premier League table, though they could be leapfrogged by either Manchester City or Newcastle United when those two sides clash on Saturday. The Blues have now won just two of their last nine league outings.
Injuries Hamper Chelsea
Chelsea were without key attacking duo Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu for the trip to the Amex Stadium, and their absence was keenly felt. Maresca’s men failed to register a single shot on target over the 90 minutes as they struggled to create any clear-cut chances.
“We are in a moment when we feel we can concede easily and struggle to score,” Maresca acknowledged. The Italian will be desperate to get his star forwards back fit as soon as possible to inject some much-needed firepower into his stuttering side.
Brighton Marching On
In contrast, it was another hugely encouraging evening’s work for Brighton. Hurzeler’s team are now unbeaten in their last three meetings with Chelsea, having also knocked the Blues out of the FA Cup last week.
The victory lifts the Seagulls up to eighth place in the table, and on this evidence, they will be eyeing an assault on the European qualification spots during the run-in. Their front-foot, attack-minded approach is winning plenty of plaudits – and points.
Chelsea Need a Response
As for Chelsea, Maresca was unequivocal on what must come next. “Now is the moment we need to stick together,” he insisted, while accepting that he is under growing pressure to turn results around.
The Blues can scarcely afford any more slip-ups if they are to secure Champions League football for next season. With an FA Cup exit also still raw, Maresca knows he needs to oversee a rapid upturn in form and fortunes in the weeks ahead.
Chelsea host London rivals West Ham United in their next Premier League fixture, in what already feels like a must-win encounter. Maresca will hope to have his key men back fit for that clash as he looks to kickstart his side’s faltering campaign.
