Enzo Maresca admitted Chelsea must stop “giving away presents” after a costly red card paved the way for Brighton’s shock 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues looked in control when Enzo Fernández’s header put them ahead in the 24th minute, but the game turned midway through the second half when Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed for denying Diego Gomez a goalscoring opportunity.
The sending-off mirrored last weekend’s disaster at Old Trafford, where goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was sent off after four minutes of a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
With Chelsea reduced to ten men, Brighton sensed an opportunity. Danny Welbeck levelled in the 77th minute, finishing a swift move to silence the home crowd. As added time began, Maxim De Cuyper was left unmarked to head Brighton in front after Mats Wieffer recycled Yasin Ayari’s cross. Welbeck struck again moments later to seal the win and condemn Chelsea to back-to-back league defeats.
Maresca cut a frustrated figure after watching his side surrender control of a match they had dominated for long spells.
“The message in the dressing room was clear. Against any team in the Premier League you cannot continue to give away presents,” the Chelsea manager said. “The red card is a big mistake because the game completely changed.”
Chelsea had enjoyed nearly 70 per cent possession in the first half, creating multiple chances and appearing well set for victory. Fernández’s opener came after Moisés Caicedo slipped a pass into Reece James, whose cross was nodded in at the far post. But Chalobah’s rash challenge, following a misplaced pass by Andrey Santos, altered the contest.
The defeat leaves Chelsea in eighth place, already drifting from the leading pack, with league leaders Liverpool their next opponents at Anfield on 4 October.
“It is tough because we were in control of the game,” Maresca said. “We scored one and could have scored more. But because of our mistake, the plan completely changed. We played two games today, one before the red card and one after. We cannot keep making these big mistakes.”
