There are ways to react to going down to 10. Some managers decide attack is the best form of defence, but Enzo Maresca has twice gone in the other direction. Chelsea’s head coach made a baffling call during last Saturday’s loss to Manchester United, responding to Robert Sánchez’s early red card by removing too many offensive players, and it was less than encouraging to see Maresca decide there was no reason to tweak his approach when his stuttering side found themselves at a numerical disadvantage against Brighton.
The frustration from the fans was audible as Chelsea fell back after Trevoh Chalobah was sent off early in the second half. Defensive players were introduced when Andrey Santos, Estêvão and Pedro Neto were sacrificed. Maresca had attacking options, but ignored Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George.
He was out of substitution windows and unable to bring on a forward after Brighton, whose substitutions were far more positive and influential, took a 2-1 lead when Maxim de Cuyper scored his first goal for the club during stoppage time.
It was a strategic error. The rumblings of discontent at Chelsea are growing louder. They have taken one point since the international break and have lost at home in the league for the first time since December. Chalobah’s dismissal for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity means Chelsea’s only options in central defence for next Saturday’s visit by Liverpool are Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong and Benoît Badiashile – assuming Maresca does not decide to bring Axel Disasi out of cold storage.
It is worth remembering that Maresca did not exactly hide his desire for a new centre-back after losing Levi Colwill to a long-term knee injury. His bosses disagreed. Incidentally, Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea’s co-owner, was joined by the recruitment team in going down the tunnel after full-time.
Were they headed for the home or away dressing room? Off to sign more Brighton players? This was sweet for Brighton. The celebrations were wild when Danny Welbeck’s second goal made it 3-1.
Brighton have lost so many players and executives to Chelsea during the past three years. The enmity has grown. Brighton cherished their third consecutive victory over Chelsea. The only worry for Tony Bloom, Brighton’s owner, might be that Chelsea respond to this result by coming for one of his players. A defender, perhaps?
“In the Premier League you cannot give away presents,” Maresca said. “We need to learn quickly.”
Maresca transmits frustration. Building on winning the Club World Cup has been more challenging than anticipated. Chelsea are not clicking and the injuries are piling up. Cole Palmer is out for three weeks with a groin injury and the problems at the back were exacerbated when Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana were ruled out of this game.
Time to use that deep squad. Hato, the 19-year-old Dutch defender, joined Chalobah in central defence and there was a first league start for Santos, whose initial drive in midfield was central to Chelsea’s early dominance.
It was not a surprise when they led after 24 minutes, Moises Caicedo releasing Reece James on the right and the captain delivering for Enzo Fernández to head in his third goal of the season. “Chelsea dominated,” Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hürzeler, said. “After the goal everything changed. We played with more courage.”
Chelsea, who lined up with four former Brighton players, dipped after half-time. The momentum shifted when James, who tired at right-back, went off for treatment after jarring his knee. A mixup followed, Santos inadvertently poking the ball to Diego Gómez, who was through on goal and just outside the area when he was brought down by Chalobah.
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Simon Hooper, the referee, was having such a bad game that it required him to check the pitchside monitor to confirm Chalobah had to be sent off. Brighton stirred. Maresca threw on Acheampong, Malo Gusto, Roméo Lavia and Badiashile. The pressure grew. Hürzeler introduced Welbeck and moved the outstanding Yankubah Minteh to the left flank.
Faced by no counterattacks, Brighton pushed up and probed. Minteh and Welbeck missed chances. Eventually they combined, Minteh dancing past Gusto and crossing for Welbeck to head in the equaliser.
Gusto, Maresca said, was on to help James deal with Minteh. Nothing worked for Chelsea and their composure disappeared. There was a brawl after Brighton appealed for a penalty.
Brighton led when Yasin Ayari’s cross led to two substitutes combining, Mats Wiefer heading across for De Cuyper to score.
Short of attacking outlets, Chelsea folded. It was over when Welbeck danced through and lifted a shot over Sánchez. Maresca has problems to solve.
