Enzo Maresca solves biggest Chelsea problem in the last two years with emphatic Brighton win
Chelsea showed a part of their game they haven’t had recently to force Brighton into submission.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has turned up the volume at Stamford Bridge, as fans came alive during their 4-2 Premier League win against Brighton. For a long time, there have been questions about the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, but the way his team performed made the fans back them in a way that hasn’t been felt in years in West London.
The last time the atmosphere was anywhere close to what we witnessed today was when Chelsea were held to an entertaining draw against rivals Tottenham.
That match saw then-manager Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte get into a heated altercation after the final whistle, with Tuchel demanding that the Italian look him in the eye when shaking his hand.
Against Brighton, the Seagulls took the lead, but as has been the case in recent weeks, Chelsea responded immediately, coming close twice before levelling through Cole Palmer.
The former Manchester City man then grabbed the first half by the scruff of the neck, scoring four goals. Even though Chelsea's goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, did his best to help his former side back into the game with an undercooked back pass, a 4-2 lead in the first half brought the 39,495-strong crowd to life.
Chelsea have long been searching for a manager who not only improves the football and results but also brings the best out of Stamford Bridge's atmosphere.
This performance may just be the solution to that puzzle. There is still a long way to go this season, and there will be twists and turns, but the performance and result have shown that Maresca can get Stamford Bridge bouncing again, something a few of his predecessors tried and failed to achieve.