Enzo Maresca reiterated his view that Chelsea are usually not concerned within the title race, as these hopes took a large blow with Monday’s loss to struggling Ipswich City.
Chelsea had been punished for a profligate displaying as Kieran McKenna’s aspect scored in both half by Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson to safe a 2-0 win at Portman Street.
The defeat noticed Chelsea lose back-to-back Premier League video games for the primary time since February, shedding additional floor on runaway leaders Liverpool.
A ten-point hole now separates Arne Slot’s aspect, who’ve a sport in hand, and fourth-placed Chelsea – however Maresca insists his workforce are taking issues one sport at a time.
“We focus sport by sport. We’re not targeted on title race or these issues,” the Chelsea boss advised BBC Sport.
“We made 4 adjustments from the final sport as a result of all of them need to play. Now we’ve completed the primary a part of the season, nobody anticipated us to be the place we’re.
“We’re in a great place however we are able to do many issues higher. It’s an extended race.”
Joao Felix noticed what would have been a first-half equaliser dominated out for offside by the VAR, whereas Cole Palmer twice struck the woodwork within the opening half.
Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea
Ipswich picked up a invaluable Premier League win of their closing match of 2024, as they beat Chelsea 2-0. They lastly gained a house sport within the 2024-25 Premier League season on the tenth try.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 30, 2024
Chelsea amassed 20 photographs on Christian Walton’s objective in complete, their most makes an attempt with out scoring in a Premier League away sport since December 2017 (25 towards Everton).
Maresca refused accountable his attacking gamers for his or her slip-up, nonetheless.
“We had possibilities with Joao and Noni [Madeuek] so it’s not concerning the striker,” the Italian added. “Typically you create possibilities and it doesn’t go for you.
“It was an odd sport by way of creating many possibilities and we might’ve scored many however they saved objectives on the road or had nice saves from the goalkeeper.
“We might do many issues higher, defend higher in some moments.”
Chelsea had been unable to take care of Delap, whose 4 photographs heading in the right direction, 5 makes an attempt on objective and three fouls gained had been all game-leading figures in an imperious displaying by the 21-year-old.
Delap each scored and assisted in a Premier League for the second time this time period, changing into the second Ipswich participant to take action greater than as soon as in a single season after Finidi George in 2001-02 (additionally twice).
Hutchinson, who got here again to hang-out his former employers with a well-taken end, was filled with reward for his team-mate after a driving run created the house for Ipswich’s second objective.
“He’s a unit,” Hutchinson mentioned. “Full bundle however he’s nonetheless discovering himself and nonetheless studying and making an attempt to turn out to be a prime participant so he’s a great striker to play with.”
As for a primary top-flight win over Chelsea since 1993, the Ipswich winger added: “It’s good to write down historical past and at last get the primary win at residence.
“I’m grateful for what Chelsea did in my profession, gave me my debut, however I’m enjoying for Ipswich now and I need to rating and assist my workforce get three factors and assist us keep up.”
#IPSCHE pic.twitter.com/eerVdEgvdR
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) December 30, 2024
The message from star man Delap was easy as he requested for extra of the identical from his fellow Ipswich costs.
“We have to present the grit and willpower to win three factors and everybody did that,” he mentioned on Sky Sports activities.
“It doesn’t change a lot. We’ve carried out nicely however not bought the outcomes so we simply have to begin racking up some wins.”
