Enzo Maresca has highlighted one moment from the win against Brentford as to why the Blues aren’t title contenders.
Chelsea ground out a hard fought 2-1 win against the Bees at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson.
The Blues have now won five Premier League games in a row and have closed the gap on leaders Liverpool to two points, whilst they are now four ahead of Arsenal in third.
Maresca still playing down title talk
Chelsea’s poor record against Brentford heading into the game was well documented, with the Blues failing to win any of their previous five encounters, whilst the Bees had won their last three visits to Stamford Bridge.
Thomas Frank’s side made it difficult in the first half but Chelsea eventually got the breakthrough thanks to a brilliant header from Cucurella two minutes before half time, his first Premier League goal for the club.
A group of Chelsea players celebrate by the corner flag at Stamford Bridge. (Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
Chelsea have now won five Premier League games in a row. (Image: Chris Lee – Chelsea FC)
Chelsea missed a number of opportunities to extend their lead, with Jackson culpable, but the Senegal international made amends ten minutes from time with a brilliant finish to seemingly put the game to bed.
However, the Blues conceded a late goal to Bryan Mbeumo which set up a nervy ending, but they managed to hold on.
After the game Maresca highlighted the goal as another reason to why the Blues aren’t title contenders, and believes they should have managed the situation better.
“For sure, the goal we concede, it is something we need to manage better,” he told his post match press conference.
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Enzo Maresca applauds the home fans. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
A group of Chelsea players celebrate by the corner flag at Stamford Bridge. (Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
“At the end of the game, the game is finished, we can manage that moment in a different way. But it is experience for the players to learn and to improve things.”
Next up for Chelsea is their final game of the league phase of the Conference League against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday night before a trip to Everton on Sunday.