Chelsea boss offers blunt assessment after 3-1 loss, saying Leeds were “better than us in all the aspects.”
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca delivered a brutally honest assessment of his team’s performance after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road, admitting his players were second-best in every department.
The Blues were rocked early by a Jaka Bijol header and trailed by two at halftime after Ao Tanaka’s thunderous strike. A Pedro Neto goal after the break offered brief hope, but a costly defensive mistake allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to seal the game for a spirited Leeds side with 20 minutes remaining.
Addressing the media post-match, a frank Maresca minced no words. “They were better than us in all the aspects and they deserved to win the game,” he stated. “There is nothing we can take from this game.”
He struggled to find positives, singling out only two players for their second-half contributions. “In tonight’s game there was no-one that was at his best level. Pedro second half, Garna [Alejandro Garnacho] second half, probably they were our best players.”
The Italian manager warned his squad against complacency, emphasizing that the high standards shown in recent draws with Arsenal and Barcelona cannot be selectively applied. “When you play the way we did in the last two games… you expect a better performance, no doubt,” Maresca said. “But because we perform so well against Arsenal and Barcelona… that does not mean that we are going to perform always in the same way.”
He pointed to squad rotation as a factor, but not an excuse, for the drop in level. “When you change players, the level drops, that is the reality because they are important players for us and would be important players for any team.”
The result leaves Chelsea clinging to fourth place, now three points behind an in-form Aston Villa. The pressure is on to respond quickly, with a trip to struggling AFC Bournemouth on Saturday followed by a crucial Champions League clash against Atalanta.
Similar Posts:
- Focus Was On Tonight”: Maresca Defends Team Selection After Brentford Sting Chelsea Late
- Maresca Reveals Key Moment That Sealed Chelsea’s Club World Cup Triumph
- Arsenal Agree £52m Deal for Chelsea Winger Noni Madueke
- Palmer Ruled Out for Arsenal Clash, But Chelsea Boss Offers Positive Update
- Maresca Admits He’s “Worried” as Chelsea’s Slump Hits Four Games
