Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca didn’t look very happy as his side were stunned by Fulham as they lost 2-1 in the west London derby on Boxing Day.
The Blues had been unbeaten in nine games in the Premier League but after Cole Palmer gave them the lead in the first half, his side stepped off the gas and Fulham grabbed two late goals and a deserved win.
Maresca’s Chelsea remain on 35 points and they have now handed Liverpool a golden opportunity to extend their lead atop the Premier League table.
Enzo Maresca reaction to Chelsea defeat against Fulham
“I think probably the first 10-15 minutes of the second half we conceded too many transitions to them,” Maresca told Prime Video in the UK. “We could control much better the second half, especially the first 15-20 minutes. Then the game was there. But unfortunately we concede in the last minute the goal.”
Did Maresca agree with Cole Palmer’s assessment that Chelsea lost control of the game?
“It is exactly what I said to them,” Palmer said. “We can manage better the game. I think we concede too many transitions in the second half. It’s a team with Iwobi, Adama and Jimenez, they are very good in transition. You have to control better. It is a game that we can learn many things.”
“We need to manage better the game. Especially the second half. We knew exactly it was a team that plays in transition many times because they have very good players in transition. We could avoid that. For some minutes we could avoid but for the first 15-20 minutes of the second half we concede too many transitions. We need to avoid that.”
Does the defeat to Fulham feel like a missed opportunity for Chelsea as they could have been just one point behind leaders Liverpool?
“I think it’s just a game that unfortunately we lost. Now it is just a matter of recovering energy and go again in three days,” Maresca said.
Maresca was then asked about ruling Chelsea out of the title race time and time again recently and if this defeat illustrated why they may not be ready to challenge for the title.
“I said many times not because we win or lose a game that we are ready or not ready,” Maresca said. “It is the feeling we have inside. The reality for us. This is the reason why the best thing we can do is just focus on game by game and see the things we need to improve.”
Maresca on Madueke latest
In his post-game press conference Maresca was also asked about Noni Madueke not being in the Chelsea squad against Fulham.
Maresca simply replied: “Technical decision.”
England international Madueke has lost his spot in the starting lineup in recent weeks.
