Enzo Maresca has sought to downplay the post-match events at Stamford Bridge wherein several high-profile Chelsea directors were seen entering the dressing room following a disheartening 3-1 loss to Brighton. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali, accompanied by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, along with Joe Shields and Sam Jewell, made their way down the tunnel shortly after the final whistle sounded at the historic ground.
The match saw Chelsea falter once more, with Trevoh Chalobah receiving his marching orders early in the second half after a foul on Diego Gomez. This moment proved pivotal as Brighton seized the opportunity to overturn an earlier lead established by Enzo Fernandez’s strike. Danny Welbeck netted twice, and a header from Maxim De Cuyper secured all three points for Fabian Hurzeler’s buoyant side.
Although the sight of Eghbali leading the boardroom entourage into the dressing room amidst audible boos from the stands might suggest discontent, Maresca insists this is par for the course. “They have been inside the changing room, like always,” Maresca explained. “We have an office inside the changing room where after every game, we sit and we talk about the game. But they did not say anything to the players. It was nothing completely different compared to the rest of the games.”
The loss extends a worrying spell for Chelsea, who face a month without a Premier League victory as they prepare to welcome Liverpool next weekend. Recent stalemates with Brentford, coupled with defeats at the hands of Manchester United and now Brighton, leave Chelsea languishing three points off the top four.
In contrast, Brighton’s performance lifted them into the top half of the table, illustrating their prowess under the tactical guidance of Hurzeler. Chelsea must quickly regroup for their Champions League encounter against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, while Brighton set their sights on their next Premier League fixture away at Wolves.