It’s another disappointing Chelsea result — a 3-1 loss and a flat performance against Atalanta in the Champions League.
After frustration against Leeds and Bournemouth, Enzo Maresca and the Blues really could have done with a strong performance to get the season back on track.
It was the Italian side who came out on top. Reece James’ masterclass Champions League performance went to waste.
Fans were never going to be happy with another missed opportunity, but a decision Maresca made at 1-1 has made things worse.
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Chelsea fans can’t understand Enzo Maresca’s Tosin sub
Having only come on at half-time, Wesley Fofana was unfortunate again, getting a whack in the eye that forced him off just shy of the 80th minute.
In his place, Maresca brought on Tosin Adarabioyo.
Put aside Tosin’s shocker against Leeds for a second. With the game in the balance and the clock winding down, Chelsea fans wanted to see some ambition. Some intent.
Instead, Maresca opted for another defender. That’s one of six, with Reece James and Malo Gusto manning the double-pivot by this point.
One fan asks the question: “Could you not just move Reece into CB or Josh into CB and then put Gusto at RB. Why does Tosin have to come on?”
The response: “It’s 100% on Maresca. You need a goal, Fofana gets hurt, you have a CB playing RB and two RBs on the pitch playing god knows what, and you bring on Tosin.”
There were more permutations put forth, like: “Take James to CB, bring Santos to midfield, what was the necessity of Tosin? Maresca shocks me sometimes.”
“Maresca is not himself in this game. Some stupid decisions tonight.”
It certainly didn’t help that Chelsea conceded the second goal just six minutes after Tosin’s introduction — and it came from a foul he gave away.
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Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images
This fan recaps: “Ridiculous foul given away from Tosin and then they score from it. All on the manager.”
This fan is tired of both of them, saying: “I’m so so sick of Tosin. Absolutely sick of Maresca using him. Absolutely sick of Maresca’s selections and subs. Sick of his decision-making.”
Clearly tensions are running high after another fluffed European away trip.
Chelsea’s top-eight quest dealt a huge blow
Maresca and co will be extremely disappointed at the dropped points, that make automatic qualification a difficult task.
As it stands, Chelsea are down to 11th, but they will drop further once Wednesday night’s action concludes.
The Blues will need to be perfect in their last two, and even that might not be enough.
Failing to do so will most likely mean no midweek breaks from here until March. With how much Chelsea have struggled with injuries, that sounds like a very worrying proposition.
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