Maresca needs to go”, “Give the team back to Abramovich” – Fans react as Chelsea slump to 3-0 loss against Brighton

Chelsea’s latest performance in the Premier League became a nightmare as they suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Falmer Stadium on February 14. The poor display left fans extremely disappointed, sparking intense criticism across social media.

A Match to Forget

Brighton dominated from start to finish, leaving Chelsea struggling. In the 27th minute, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring with a well-placed right-footed shot following a long pass from Bart Verbruggen. The hosts increased their lead in the 38th minute when Yankuba Minteh fired a left-footed strike after a precise assist from Danny Welbeck.

Chelsea’s misery continued in the second half, with Minteh scoring again in the 63rd minute from another Welbeck assist. Despite holding 69% possession, Chelsea failed to register a shot on target or create any meaningful chances. They also suffered an injury during the match, adding to their growing list of worries.

Fans Express Their Fury

Fans expressed their frustration loudly on social media, calling for immediate action. Many demanded the sacking of manager Enzo Maresca.

“Maresca needs to go!” one fan exclaimed.

Another added, “Give the team back to Abramovich!”

A disheartened supporter wrote, “SEASON OVER.”

One particularly critical fan tweeted, “Utter disaster from top to bottom. #BlueCoOut.”

Another raged, “Every player, the manager, the sporting directors, and the owners should all be ashamed. Absolutely abysmal performance!”

The backlash intensified as some fans accused Maresca of being out of his depth, questioning his tactics and decisions. One user commented, “Maresca tricked everyone into thinking he was a top manager, but he’s completely out of his depth. No identity, no fight, no progress. He needs to go.” Another added, “He should be sacked with his negative energy.”

Chelsea’s Second Defeat to Brighton This Month

This crushing defeat wasn’t a one-off. It was Chelsea’s second loss to Brighton in just a few days. On February 8, Brighton had already eliminated them from the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory, adding more pressure on Maresca and his squad.

Maresca Responds to the Loss

After the embarrassing defeat, Enzo Maresca addressed the media, recognizing the fans’ frustration and admitting the team needs significant improvement. Speaking via NBC Sports, he expressed his disappointment:

“With this result, the frustration is about everything. We feel really sorry for the fans who traveled to support us. With 14 games remaining in the season, we must perform much, much better than what we showed tonight.”

Maresca also pointed to the team’s struggles in the attacking third, saying:

“We controlled possession, but when you don’t have a proper number nine to pose a constant threat, you need to find other solutions. We reached the edge of the box but failed to make an impact in the last third. Hopefully, tonight can be a turning point.”

Possession Without Purpose

Despite Chelsea having 69% of possession, their play lacked effectiveness. They failed to get a shot on target and only created one meaningful goal-scoring chance, proving that possession alone doesn’t win matches.

As pressure increases, Chelsea must find quick solutions if they hope to salvage their season. With growing fan unrest and Maresca’s tactics under scrutiny, the next few weeks will be crucial for the club’s future.