Responding to Brighton’s impressive 3-0 victory at the Amex Stadium on Friday, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged it as the “worst performance” under his leadership, with Japanese talent Kaoru Mitoma delivering a spectacular Premier League goal.
The lacklustre Chelsea side failed to register any shots on target, marking their second loss within a week at the venue.
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Fresh from scoring the decisive goal in Brighton’s 2-1 FA Cup triumph over Chelsea the previous weekend, Mitoma continued to shine. His remarkable first-half display of skill preceded Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh’s double strike.
Having arrived from Leicester, Maresca’s inaugural season included recent statements about Chelsea’s rightful place in the Champions Leaguealigning with the club’s two-year qualification objective.
The recent defeat, their third in four matches across all competitions, has dampened their top-four aspirations.
“I constantly feel pressure, but today’s performance stands out as the poorest since my arrival,” Maresca stated. “This result brings complete frustration. We deeply regret disappointing our travelling supporters.”
The manager faces the crucial task of addressing Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities if the fourth-placed team, currently leading Manchester City and Newcastle by two points, aims to achieve their seasonal objectives.
Maresca elaborated: “In our current position, with an opportunity to extend our lead over pursuing teams, tonight’s performance highlights numerous areas requiring improvement. However, we maintain fourth position and remain competitive for a strong finish.”
Brighton, who suffered a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in their last league encounter and had secured only two victories in their previous twelve top-flight matches, have regained momentum with consecutive wins against Chelsea.
Cole Palmer’s early-season prowess, yielding six goals in seven initial league appearances followed by eight more (including two penalties) in seventeen subsequent matches, has notably diminished.
Chelsea’s trajectory has shifted from potential title challengers to top-four contenders as Palmer’s form cooled. His struggles continued with wayward attempts before Noni Madueke’s injury-enforced departure compounded Chelsea’s fitness concerns.
Brighton’s opening goal showcased Mitoma’s brilliance, expertly controlling Bart Verbruggen’s goal-kick before outmanoeuvring Trevoh Chalobah and finishing precisely.
Despite Enzo Fernandez’s disallowed header due to a clear push, Brighton extended their lead through Minteh, capitalising on Chelsea’s defensive errors. The third goal arrived from Minteh’s skilled finish following Danny Welbeck’s contribution, despite Chelsea’s protests about a possible foul on Levi Colwill.
