Cole Palmer’s Chelsea Patience could be tested after the ‘worst performance’ under Enzo Maresca, says Jamie Carragher | Football news
Enzo Maresca says a 3-0 defeat in Brighton was the “worst performance” of Chelsea, while Jamie Carragher asked how much Cole Palmer would wait for the team to improve.
Chelsea failed to register a shot at the Premier League match, for the first time since September 2021, because the magic opener Kaora Mitoma and Yankuba Minthuba double saw that Brighton won them for the second time in seven days.
Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu’s injuries left Mareska without an attacker, but their problems were not limited to the attack because Brighton Pari Chelsea was to close the gap on the fourth side to six points.
“Tonight is the worst performance since I arrived, but we’re still in the race to end up in the top four,” said Maresca Sky Sports. “I always feel pressure. Not just now,” he added.
Chelsea will lose its best status if Man City, Bournemouth or Newcastle wins, as the competition for the Champions League qualification is warming up.
If Chelsea passes in this regard, it would mark three consecutive seasons outside the elite competition for new European owners, despite spending more than 1 billion pounds on signing.
“If they don’t get the Champions League, it will be a disaster,” Carragher said.
“The only thing I took from this game is not just how poor they were, but also the frustration of Palmer. It won’t wait for this idea that we will make the Champions League in a few years.”
Palmer, 22, is under a contract in Chelsea by 2033, but Carragher says he may not be that patient.
“The idea that this project will take two or three years, the problem is that the best players will not wait,” Carragher added.
“Cole Palmer is one of the best players in the Premier League. You could start feeling a frustration that starts building. It’s good to compete for the biggest honors in the Premier League and Champions League.
“He scored in the Euro final! That’s something Chelsea needs to keep in his head.
“The idea that it could be five or 10 years – nonsense. Nottingham Forest is third, and Chelsea spent more than billion pounds.”
Chelsea has started the debut season of Maresca in fine form, but the results have declined in the last two months with only two victories in the last nine league matches.
They are also outside the home Cup competitions, but remain in the UEFA Conference League for the last 16.
“Chelsea has to return to the winning games as soon as possible or this season can really be resolved,” Carragher added. The European competition where there are almost is not a competition in which Chelsea should be.
“Even if they win, I don’t think there will be many merit for them.
“Of course, it’s an improvement compared to last season at this stage, but you have to remember those teams last season under [Mauricio] Pochettino, with 14 games, lost only one of them. I do not look at the team here who will not lose any of his next 13.
“They have a lot to actually improve on what happened last season. This team is not good enough.
“Brighton has absolutely beaten them in all departments. I just watch these Chelsea players go to supporters, there are very few and they are a very angry crowd is right.”
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