Enzo Maresca issues Leeds United verdict and names only 2 Chelsea players who deserve credit

Enzo Maresca was not impressed with Chelsea’s performance on Wednesday night, with the Blues falling short against Leeds United at Elland Road. The Blues fell behind within six minutes, with Jaka Bijol scoring from a corner, and Ao Tanaka scored with a rasping strike to make it two before the break.

Pedro Neto pulled one back just after half-time, but a big defensive error lead to Dominic Calvert-Lewin killing the game off with 20 minutes remaining.

Chelsea were undoubtedly poor on the night, and Maresca acknowledged that his side deserved to lose the game, praising Leeds United and singling out only two Chelsea players who represented themselves well at Elland Road.

“They were better than us in all the aspects and they deserved to win the game,” said the Blues boss. “There is nothing we can take from this game. The only thing we can do is try to understand the mistakes we have made, try to reset, because on Saturday we have another game.

“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, because after we scored the goal we had two chances with Cole [Palmer] and Joao [Pedro]. Then the third goal killed the game.

“I hope that we had a bad night because it’s a game that you struggle to find something that you can take from the game. On the ball, off the ball, duels, second balls – they were much better than us in all the aspects.”

Maresca warned his side that they must be careful against so-called lesser opposition after turning up against the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona, with no pushovers in the Premier League, as Leeds proved with a rousing home performance on Wednesday night.

“For sure for different reasons the level is not going to be always the same. Home or away against any team, if you don’t perform 100 per cent, the Premier League is tough,” Maresca warned.

“When you play the way we did in the last two games against Barcelona and Arsenal, you expect a better performance, no doubt. But because we perform so well against Arsenal and Barcelona and over the last month, that does not mean that we are going to perform always in the same way.

“For different reasons it is not possible, because of the situations you have to manage. We have players that it is not possible for them to play every two or three days. 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.”

Chelsea hang on to fourth place for now, although they are three points behind Aston Villa in third, with the Midlands side having picked up form in recent weeks. On Saturday, the Blues face a side that has been heading in the other direction in AFC Bournemouth, heading to the South coast ahead of another away clash, against Atalanta in Champions League.

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