Alious
Following Chelsea’s disheartening 3-1 home defeat to Brighton, head coach Enzo Maresca has addressed growing speculation surrounding a post-match visit to the dressing room by senior club figures. The loss — Chelsea’s second consecutive Premier League defeat — has further compounded the club’s shaky start to the season.
Dramatic Turn at Stamford Bridge
The Blues initially looked in control when Enzo Fernández opened the scoring midway through the first half. However, the match took a dramatic turn early in the second period when defender Trevoh Chalobah was sent off. Brighton capitalized on the numerical advantage, with Danny Welbeck equalizing in the 77th minute, followed by stoppage-time goals from Maxim De Cuyper and Welbeck again to seal a stunning comeback for the visitors.
The result leaves Chelsea with just two wins from their opening six league fixtures, and only three victories in eight games across all competitions since their Club World Cup triumph in July.
Owners Enter Dressing Room Post-Match
Reports emerged, via journalist Matt Law, that a group of Chelsea’s top brass — including co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, as well as Joe Shields and Sam Jewell — entered the dressing room shortly after full-time. The timing of their visit, coinciding with jubilant Brighton celebrations, sparked concern and fueled speculation of internal tensions.
Maresca: “It Was Nothing Out of the Ordinary”
Maresca, however, was quick to downplay the incident. Speaking after the match, the Italian explained that post-match visits from the ownership group are routine and not a cause for alarm.
> “They have been inside the changing room, like always,” Maresca clarified. “We have an office inside the dressing room where, after every game, we sit and talk about what happened. But they did not say anything to the players. It was nothing different from the other matches.”
Maresca Reflects on Turning Point
The Chelsea boss expressed frustration at the manner of the defeat, especially given the strong first-half showing.
> “It’s a tough one because we were in control,” he said. “We scored first, could have added more, and didn’t concede much. The stats from the first half — lots of shots, 70% possession — showed we were dominant. But after the red card, the entire game changed. It felt like we were playing two separate matches.”
Tough Fixtures Ahead
While Maresca is not believed to be under immediate threat of dismissal, Chelsea’s form is raising concerns. The team began their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich earlier this month and are set to host Benfica midweek, in a game that will mark the return of former manager José Mourinho to Stamford Bridge.
Of Chelsea’s three wins this season, one came in the EFL Cup against third-tier Lincoln City — a match in which they had to come from behind. The next round pits them against Premier League rivals Wolves.
As scrutiny intensifies, Maresca will be looking for a swift response from his squad — and for the dressing room to be in the headlines for the right reasons.
Alious
