Chelsea suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in Friday’s Premier League match. This marked their second consecutive loss to Brighton within a week, following a defeat in the FA Cup. Chelsea delivered a dismal display, failing to create any clear goal scoring opportunities a performance that drew sharp criticism from coach Enzo Maresca and Manchester United legend Gary Neville.
Gary Neville Criticises the Forwards’ Effort:
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville specifically lambasted Chelsea’s attacking players, singling out Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku for their lacklustre performance.
“Nkunku and Palmer are very good players, but tonight they were extremely poor. Both are talented, yet in this match they didn’t make any impact,” Neville said.
He added that Chelsea showed no movement compared to Brighton, who continuously pressed and attacked the Blues’ defence.
“I didn’t see Nkunku or Palmer once making a strong run past Brighton’s defenders. Brighton’s backline played with ease tonight,” Neville continued.
Neville also noted that players like Danny Welbeck and Georginio Rutter demonstrated more effort than Chelsea’s forwards, further fuelling the frustration of fans watching their team fail to threaten Brighton’s goal.
Maresca: “This Is Chelsea’s Worst Display”
Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, made it clear that this defeat was the worst since he took charge.
“Since I arrived, this has been our worst display, especially at a time like this,” Maresca said.
Chelsea entered the match in fourth place and had a chance to close the gap on the third-placed team. However, their poor performance squandered that opportunity, jeopardising their Champions League hopes.
They started the game well, but their momentum faltered when Noni Madueke suffered a muscle injury in the first half. Shortly thereafter, Brighton took the lead with a beautiful goal from Kaoru Mitoma, completely shattering Chelsea’s hopes.
A Team with Cumulative Problems:
Chelsea has now managed to win only three of their last 11 matches in all competitions—a clear sign of serious issues both in attack and defence.
Despite controlling possession, Chelsea failed to create any real chances. There wasn’t a single well crafted opportunity aimed at Brighton’s goal, highlighting their attacking problems. In contrast, Brighton executed their strategies flawlessly, launching swift counterattacks and applying constant pressure.
Yankuba Minteh, who scored two goals for Brighton, took full advantage of Chelsea’s defensive errors, further underscoring the Blues’ shortcomings at the back.
Angry Chelsea Supporters:
Chelsea fans who travelled to the Amex Stadium made their disappointment clear, chanting “We want the old Chelsea!” and calling out the name of former owner Roman Abramovich. Their outburst reflected the deep frustration over the current state of the team.
Maresca acknowledged the fans’ feelings, saying:
“Everywhere it’s the same—when you win, the fans are happy; when you lose, they get angry. At this moment, I think they have every right to be upset.”
An Unconfident Defence and Lack of Leadership:
Chelsea’s defence performed very poorly in this match. With attacking players like Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu sidelined by injury, the team struggled to create offensive options, yet even the defenders made little effort to stop Brighton.
One of Chelsea’s major issues is the lack of leadership in midfield. Although Thiago Silva brings experience, there isn’t anyone clearly inspiring the team when things go wrong.
Maresca admitted that there is much to improve:
“Right now, we are struggling in attack and conceding goals too easily. There is a lot that needs to be fixed.”
What Can Chelsea Do?
With 14 Premier League matches remaining, Chelsea has the chance to turn things around. However, if they don’t make rapid changes, their hopes of Champions League qualification will become increasingly dim.
One area requiring urgent attention is the attack. Although Palmer and Nkunku have performed well this season, the Brighton match revealed an alarming instability in Chelsea’s offensive play. Injuries have also limited their attacking options in recent games.
Defensively, Chelsea must work harder if they want to secure wins. Brighton scored with ease—a problem Maresca needs to address immediately.
The team faces a challenging schedule of crucial matches that could determine their final position this season. If they continue to drop points, their European ambitions will be in serious jeopardy.
