Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has called the 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday night as the “worst performance” since he arrived at the club, Afrosport reports.
A clinical strike by Kaoru Mitoma and a brace from Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh condemned the Blues to back-to-back defeats by the Seagulls after the 2-1 defeat in the fourth round of the FA Cup last weekend.
Maresca, who joined Chelsea from Championship winners Leicester City last summer, blamed the defeat on injuries and the lack of a recognised striker after Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson was ruled out for up to two months with a hamstring injury.
“Probably since I arrived that is the worst performance, especially in the moment we are in,” the Italian told BBC Sport.
“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.
“For half an hour I think we were in control but after this moment [Kaoru Mitoma’s goal] we looked like we could concede chances easily and we struggled to create chances. 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.
“It is difficult when you don’t have a proper number nine. So you always have to find a different solution. In the last third we struggled doing things that until a week or two ago we were doing well.
“This is the worst moment since I arrived but we are still there and we need to finish in the best way.”
0 – Despite averaging just under 70% possession, Chelsea failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game for the first time since September 2021 (v Manchester City). Unusual. pic.twitter.com/UVULs2r04a
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Chelsea remain in fourth spot on the Premier League table but could drop to sixth if Manchester City or Newcastle United win in Saturday’s encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
