1 hour ago
7
Red cards define games - that much is obvious, and evident when it comes to Chelsea's last two Premier League matches. Substitutions can also define games, but in Chelsea's case, they changed it for the worse.
Losing a player does not help - far from it - but how a manager reacts to such adversity can define a match. In both of Chelsea's last two Premier League games, the Blues have been shown a red card, and in both games, Enzo Maresca has made negative substitutions.
Josh Acheampong came on for Andrey Santos in the aftermath of Trevoh Chalobah's red card against Brighton, with Chelsea needing another central defender on the pitch, but the three substitutions after were the more questionable ones.
Three defensive-minded players in Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia came on for Estevao Willian, Jorrel Hato and Pedro Neto.
"What are you doing Enzo?" one supporter from the East Stand in Stamford Bridge cried out. Another fan was trying his absolute best to get the head coach's attention, presumably to vent his frustration, but Maresca was too focused on what was in front of him.
Just seven days prior to the Brighton implosion, Chelsea were defeated 2-1 at Manchester United, with Robert Sanchez's early sending off crucial in that as well.
Again, though, Maresca made a negative change; with Neto coming off for Tosin Adarabioyo, and with Estevao coming off just before that for goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, it left the Blues with no real out-ball when they looked to break.
United scored moments after the change and by that point, Chelsea had five natural defenders on the pitch, so getting back into the game was always going to be difficult.
By the time Brighton equalised on Saturday afternoon, Chelsea had five defenders on the pitch, with Gusto playing just in front of Reece James on the right side to help with the dangerous Yankuba Minteh.
After the leveller, on came Badiashile and Lavia in what was the last of Chelsea's three substitution windows, meaning there would be no attack-minded changes from Maresca in the entirety of the 90 minutes.
A fatigued Joao Pedro, who trained just twice in the week before Saturday's defeat, played the entirety of the 90 minutes, while Neto and Estevao - two of Chelsea's brightest attackers on the afternoon - were sacrificed.
When Chelsea were down to 10 men, they managed just four shots and not one of them tested Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal.
Maresca has done some incredible work as Chelsea head coach over the last 12 months and should have credit in the bank, however there is a clear frustration from supporters and Saturday felt in some respects a turning point.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Those inside Stamford Bridge let their discontent be known at full-time with loud boos ringing round the stadium, which at that point had largely emptied following Danny Welbeck's second goal.
It is understandable frustration because these fans know how good this current squad of players are. Whatever people think of the Club World Cup and its seriousness, these are the world champions, but this has been a mistake-ridden past fortnight for the Blues.
Maresca is demanding lessons to be learned by his players: "For sure we need to learn, and we need to learn quickly. The reason why could be a mix of experience or a mix of simple mistakes."
Jose Mourinho and Benfica await on Tuesday evening, with Champions League football returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time in almost two-and-a-half years. The good news for Chelsea is that Chalobah will be available for that due to his suspension not counting in European football, but there is more bad news when next weekend rolls around.
Liverpool, who were beaten for the first time this season away at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, come to Stamford Bridge next Saturday, with Chelsea having nothing short of a crisis in terms of defensive options.
Chalobah is suspended, Tosin is out with a calf problem, Wesley Fofana will be missing due to concussion protocols, while Levi Colwill is a long-term absentee. That leaves Chelsea with three senior options in the centre of defence.
If you can call Acheampong senior, that is. Acheampong, Hato and Badiashile. Acheampong and Hato have a combined five Premier League starts between them, while Badiashile made his return from a three-month absence in a cameo appearance against Brighton.
English (US) ·