Maresca Laments Chelsea's Worst Performance Under His Reign

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca slammed his team's performance in their 3-0 loss to Brighton, citing injuries as a major factor in their struggles.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca was left reeling after his team's dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton on Friday. The loss marked another disappointing result for the Blues, who failed to register a single shot on target. Maresca's frustration was palpable as he assessed the performance, stating, “Probably since I arrived, that is the worst performance, especially in the moment we are in.”

Brighton dominated the match, with Kaoru Mitoma scoring a stunning opening goal, followed by two more from Yankuba Minteh. The Seagulls' victory was a comprehensive one, with Chelsea offering little to no threat in attack. Maresca's side had been hoping to close the gap on third place with a win, but instead, they were left to rue a lackluster display.

Maresca expressed his disappointment and apologized to the Chelsea fans who had braved the chilly night on the south coast. “We are fourth in the league, and winning tonight, you can go one point from third and make the gap to the rest bigger, and the performance is not one you want to offer, so we are very upset and sorry for the fans that were here,” he told Sky Sports. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Blues, who were without several key attacking players due to injury.

Enzo Maresca reflected on Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to Brighton, acknowledging that his team's control of the game was short-lived. “For half an hour, I think we were in control but after this moment (Mitoma's goal) we looked like we could concede chances easily, and we struggled to create chances,” the 45-year-old Italian coach explained.

"The fans are right to be upset."

Enzo Maresca apologises to the Chelsea fans after their 3-0 defeat to Brighton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Q6Ejk7lPWD

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 15, 2025

Maresca attributed Chelsea's struggles to the absence of key players, particularly strikers, due to injury. “The reason why is because of the injuries in this moment, especially with the strikers... important players are out, but we need to find a solution,” he said. Despite this challenge, Maresca experimented with different formations, deploying Christopher Nkunku up front with Cole Palmer in a supporting role.

However, this tactical adjustment failed to yield the desired results, as neither Nkunku nor Palmer posed a significant threat to Brighton's defense. Maresca's disappointment was evident as he looked ahead to the team's return to London. “This is the worst moment since I arrived, but we are still there and we need to finish in the best way,” he said, emphasizing the importance of bouncing back from this setback.