Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca questioned his team’s title credentials despite a 2-1 win over Brentford, narrowing the gap to Liverpool. Maresca cited defensive lapses as a key concern while acknowledging Chelsea’s strong season. The Blues now prepare for crucial matches in the Europa Conference League and Premier League.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed doubts about his team’s ability to compete for the Premier League title, even after their 2-1 victory over Brentford on Sunday. The win brought Chelsea within two points of Liverpool at the top of the table, though Liverpool has a game in hand.
Marc Cucurella opened the scoring just before halftime, while Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead in the 80th minute. Despite a late surge from Brentford, with Bryan Mbeumo pulling one back, Chelsea held on for their fifth consecutive Premier League win. However, the match ended dramatically as Cucurella was sent off in stoppage time for receiving a second yellow card after a foul on Kevin Schade.
After the game, Maresca highlighted defensive lapses as a key reason Chelsea might fall short in their title quest. "Teams that know how to compete for titles do not concede the goals we concede," he noted while acknowledging that Chelsea’s defensive record—19 goals conceded—ranks among the league’s best, behind Arsenal (15) and Liverpool (13).
Chelsea’s unexpected success this season has exceeded expectations, yet Maresca believes defensive improvements are essential for sustained progress.
The Blues face Shamrock Rovers in the Europa Conference League on Thursday before traveling to Everton in the Premier League. With Liverpool maintaining their lead, Chelsea must remain consistent to keep the pressure on.
