Chelsea’s FA Cup dreams have been prematurely crashed after losing 1-2 to host Brighton in the fourth round as Enzo Maresca who had a brighter start to the season has not got to do with pressure.
Chelsea had beaten Brighton 4-2 in the sixth round of the Premier League this season in their last meeting.
Chelsea failed to capitalise on an early lead when Brighton’s Bert Verbruggen scored an own goal just five minutes into the game.
However, the home team quickly equalized with a goal from Georginio Rutter in the seven minutes later in a classy run of play.
Brighton completed the comeback and secured a spot in the next round with a brilliant goal from winger Kaoru Mitoma in the 57th minute.
Chelsea has now missed out on two titles this season, having previously exited the Round of 16 in the EFL Cup after a defeat to Newcastle United, who progressed to face Liverpool in the final scheduled for March at Wembley.
Maresca and his charges have dropped to fourth place in the Premier League, now 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool after 24 rounds of the competition.
What has Maresca said?
“We need to learn how to win games 1-0, that is what big clubs do”
“Sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are,” he added.
They will play to the same opponent on Valentine’s Day at Brighton in the Premier League.
