Get This Lovely Chelsea Bottles

Chelsea’s bid for a Champions League place suffered a frustrating blow on Sunday as the Blues were held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-bound Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge. It was a performance that left fans furious and Enzo Maresca with plenty to think about, especially after a disastrous first half saw his side go two goals down to a team that has spent most of the season fighting to avoid the drop.

Despite coming into the game on the back of five straight home wins in the league, Chelsea looked strangely flat from the off. Ipswich, against all expectations, took full advantage. Paraguayan striker Julio Enciso opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalising on poor defensive positioning to finish off a cross from Ben Johnson. And then, in a complete role reversal, Enciso turned provider as Johnson powered home a header to make it 2-0 just past the half-hour mark. Stamford Bridge echoed with boos at the break, a stark reminder that the fans’ patience is wearing thin.

Maresca’s half-time changes sparked a response. Within seconds of the restart, Chelsea were gifted a lifeline when Axel Tuanzebe inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. That gave the Blues momentum, but it took until the 79th minute for substitute Jadon Sancho to draw them level with a stunning curler into the top corner.

Chelsea pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages, but Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer put on a heroic display to deny Trevoh Chalobah, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer late on. In truth, a late winner might have papered over the cracks of a worrying performance.

With the race for a top five finish tightening, Chelsea can’t afford more slip-ups like this. The result leaves Chelsea vulnerable, with rivals closing in fast. And with tougher fixtures on the horizon, Maresca must quickly find a solution to the team’s inconsistency — especially at the back.

One thing is certain: a Champions League return won’t come easy — not playing like this.