What disappointed Enzo Maresca told Chelsea Players after 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace

Enzo Maresca Chelsea
Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images

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Chelsea’s poor Premier League form continued on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating large parts of the game, Chelsea failed to capitalize on their first-half lead, extending their winless run in the league to four matches (D2, L2).

The match started brightly for Chelsea, with Jadon Sancho playing a pivotal role in their early goal. The winger’s brilliant dummy and surging run through the Palace defense set up Cole Palmer, who slotted the ball past Dean Henderson in the 14th minute.

Chelsea had opportunities to extend their advantage, most notably when Pedro Neto flicked a free-kick to the back post, but Nicolas Jackson failed to convert his volley. The missed chances proved costly as Palace grew into the game, particularly in the second half.

The hosts leveled in the 76th minute after Jean-Philippe Mateta capitalized on a misplaced pass from Palmer, finishing off a swift counter-attack with a low strike past Robert Sánchez. Chelsea’s late attempts to reclaim the lead fell short, leaving manager Enzo Maresca visibly frustrated.

Speaking to the media, Jadon Sancho revealed Maresca’s post-match message to the team in the dressing room:
“As the manager just said in the dressing room, we just have to kill off the game in the second half. I thought we played quite well and controlled a lot of the game, so it was very frustrating to concede late on.”

Sancho reflected on the missed opportunity to secure a crucial second goal:
“I think if we got the second goal, we would have been more relaxed, and they would have come out more, and that would have created more space in behind for us. That didn’t happen unfortunately, so we just have to learn from it and move on.”

The winger acknowledged the team’s recurring problem of not converting chances into goals:
“We just have to finish our chances. We still created so many chances in front of goal, but it is about getting the end product. We are still playing the same football [as in recent weeks], we are still giving 100%. This is what happens in football.”

Sancho also expressed his personal satisfaction with his role in the team:
“I am happy, taking things game by game, and the coaches have always made me feel welcome. I am just trying to give 100%.”

The draw keeps Chelsea in the top four, but their inability to kill off games is becoming a significant concern. With two more games played than league leaders Liverpool and a nine-point gap to make up, the Blues’ title aspirations are fading.

Maresca’s message to his players will resonate with fans who are growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s lack of clinical finishing and defensive lapses. As Chelsea prepare for their next fixture, they must address these issues to get their campaign back on track.

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