Chelsea’s latest Premier League performance ended in a demoralizing 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion at Falmer Stadium on February 14, leaving fans seething with frustration and sparking a wave of online criticism.
A Disastrous Match
Brighton completely dominated the game from the outset, with Chelsea struggling to make any impact. Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring in the 27th minute, taking advantage of a long pass from Bart Verbruggen to net a precise right-footed shot. Brighton extended their lead in the 38th minute when Yankuba Minteh scored a left-footed strike after a well-timed assist from Danny Welbeck.
The second half was more of the same for Chelsea, with Minteh scoring again in the 63rd minute, once again assisted by Welbeck. Despite having 69% possession, Chelsea failed to produce a single shot on target or any meaningful chances. The team’s woes were further compounded by an injury during the match, adding to their growing list of concerns.
Fan Outrage
Chelsea fans took to social media in anger, demanding immediate changes. Many called for manager Enzo Maresca’s dismissal, with some even suggesting the club should return to Roman Abramovich’s ownership.
“Maresca needs to go!” one fan wrote angrily.
Another fan commented, “Give the team back to Abramovich!”
One dejected supporter posted, “Season over.”
A particularly harsh critic tweeted, “Utter disaster from top to bottom. #BlueCoOut.”
Another user expressed their outrage: “Every player, the manager, the sporting directors, and the owners should all be ashamed. Absolutely abysmal performance!”
Criticism of Maresca
The discontent continued, with fans accusing Maresca of failing to meet expectations. One supporter stated, “Maresca tricked everyone into thinking he was a top manager, but he’s out of his depth. No identity, no fight, no progress. He needs to go.” Another added, “He should be sacked for his negative energy.”
Chelsea’s Second Defeat to Brighton in a Week
This loss was not a one-off; it was Chelsea’s second defeat to Brighton in just a week. On February 8, the Seagulls had already eliminated them from the FA Cup with a 2-1 win, intensifying the pressure on Maresca and his squad.
Maresca’s Response to the Loss
After the game, Maresca addressed the media, acknowledging the fans’ frustration and admitting that the team needs significant improvement. Speaking to NBC Sports, he expressed his disappointment:
“After this result, the frustration is universal. We feel terrible for the fans who traveled to support us. With 14 games left in the season, we must do much better than what we showed tonight.”
Maresca also pointed out Chelsea’s struggles in the final third:
“We controlled possession, but without a proper number nine to provide a constant threat, we need to find other ways to break teams down. We got to the edge of the box but couldn’t make an impact. Hopefully, this can be a turning point.”
Possession Without Purpose
Despite holding 69% possession, Chelsea’s performance lacked direction. They didn’t manage a single shot on target and created only one genuine goal-scoring opportunity, highlighting that possession alone does not win games.
With mounting pressure, Chelsea must quickly find solutions to turn around their season. With growing fan unrest and questions surrounding Maresca’s tactics, the coming weeks will be pivotal for the club’s future.
