Chelsea
Maresca: Chelsea Were Outplayed in 3–1 Defeat to Leeds
Maesca: Chelsea were outplayed in all aspects in a 3–1 defeat to Leeds; Neto called it a bad day….
Chelsea slumped to a 3–1 defeat to Leeds United on Wednesday, a result Enzo Maresca accepted was deserved after a poor showing. Jaka Bijol opened the scoring with a header, Ao Tanaka added a second with a long-range effort before half-time, and a calamitous pass out from the back allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to finish with just under 20 minutes remaining. Pedro Neto reduced the deficit soon after the restart.
Maresca did not hide his disappointment. “A very poor night,” Maresca said bluntly. “[Leeds] deserved to win the game, they were better in all aspects.
“There is nothing that we can take from this game. The only thing we can do is try to understand the mistake we have done, try to reset, because in 48 hours we have one more game.
“I hope that we had a bad night because they were … on the ball, off the ball, second ball, they were much better than us in all the aspects.”
Neto, hailed by Maresca as one of very few positives after the final whistle, offered a thoroughly unimpressed reflection to Sky Sports. “They were better than us at everything,” he conceded. “It’s difficult to take, we have to learn from that but we have to clear our minds, it happens. We are already focused on Bournemouth.
“Sometimes it happens, we had a bad day, they had more intensity, attitude, won the second balls and had more desire than us. We cannot take games for granted. Of course it hurts, it’s the worst part in football, Sometimes you can lose and say you gave everything on the pitch, but today we have to take some responsibility, all of us. Sometimes it happens, we are human.
“We had a really good month, it’s just a bad day. We don’t have explanation for that. Everyone wants to win.”
With Chelsea chasing the game at the interval, Maresca made the surprise call to withdraw 18-year-old Estêvão after the youngster picked up a yellow card following a petulant swipe at Gabriel Gudmundsson. “I think the feeling with Estêvão was, you know, a little bit ‘welcome to Leeds,’” Maresca said. “Sometimes aged 18, you struggle to manage emotion, so it was better to change him and to avoid any red card.”
Maresca also highlighted the absence of Moisés Caicedo. “We missed Moi tonight,” he said. “We’re going to miss Moi in the next game. He’s an important player.
“Moi is a player that for us is an important player for any team in the world, because he’s top.”
Chelsea
Late Enzo strike seals Chelsea’s 3-2 comeback against West Ham
Chelsea recovered from a poor first half to win 3-2, João Pedro, Cucurella and Enzo key. Late drama.
Chelsea overturned a poor first half to claim a vital 3-2 home win over West Ham United. A nervy opening left Stamford Bridge frustrated, but timely changes and second-half intensity produced a dramatic turnaround.
The match turned on substitutions. João Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández each had decisive roles after the interval. João Pedro, introduced at half-time, “completely took over the game in the second half”, sparking the comeback with a goal and later providing the assist for Fernández’s stoppage-time winner. The report rates João Pedro 8.3 for his two goal contributions.
Enzo Fernández marked his 150th Chelsea appearance by crashing the box to score the decisive goal. The Argentine was described as dictating the game from deep and was rewarded at the death. He is given an 8.3 rating for his influence and the match-winning finish.
Marc Cucurella, brought on for Jorrel Hato at half-time, was credited with stopping further danger from Jarrod Bowen and scored the equaliser with instinctive movement. His performance earns an 8.1.
Chelsea’s issues were clear in the first half. Robert Sánchez produced a costly error from a Jarrod Bowen cross and was judged unable to deal with the opener; his rating is 6.0. Defensively the team was unsettled early, with Benoît Badiashile substituted at the break and the back line described as chaotic until the changes. Wesley Fofana (7.4) helped steady that defence and his cross led to Chelsea’s first goal.
Other incidents included Jamie Gittens leaving injured before the half-hour mark, replaced by Pedro Neto (6.7). Reece James had limited time after coming on late. The statistics underline Chelsea’s control: 70% possession, 14 total shots with six on target, and an expected goals (xG) of 2.55 to West Ham’s 1.12.
The result moves Rosenior’s side into the Champions League places for the night, a reward for a recovery that matched the hostility of the early boos with celebration at the final whistle.
Chelsea
Spurs One of Eight Clubs Considering Sterling After Chelsea Departure
Tottenham among eight clubs considering Raheem Sterling after Chelsea exit; Napoli, Juventus linked.
Tottenham Hotspur have been named among eight teams weighing up a move for Raheem Sterling after his exit from Chelsea, according to reports. The same sources say a further seven clubs are evaluating a switch for the 31-year-old winger, with Napoli and Juventus explicitly mentioned among the suitors.
Chelsea’s wage bill was a primary obstacle to a conventional transfer. Sterling was earning around £325,000 ($446,000) per week at Stamford Bridge and has not featured in competitive action since returning from an underwhelming loan with Arsenal last season. Those factors prompted concern over the financial viability of any transfer.
Having now accepted a pay-off from Chelsea, the terms of which have not been disclosed, Sterling is reportedly in a position to lower his demands. It is believed he is prepared to do exactly that and would not even seek a six-figure salary from his next employer, accepting a cut of more than two thirds to secure playing opportunities.
Such a reduction will make Sterling affordable to a wider range of clubs. Though it has been some time since he was at the peak of his powers, the player remains a seasoned professional. At 31, and four appearances shy of 400 in the Premier League, he still carries the experience and capability to contribute at a high level.
Any club interested will weigh Sterling’s recent lack of competitive minutes and his previous salary against his experience and potential upside. The reported willingness to accept a substantially lower wage changes the dynamics of the market for him and explains why multiple teams, including Tottenham, Napoli and Juventus, are now said to be considering a move.
Chelsea
Chelsea weigh recall of Mamadou Sarr as centre-back hunt stalls before deadline
Chelsea consider recalling Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg as their central-defender search remains unresolved before the deadline.
Chelsea have reopened the possibility of recalling centre back Mamadou Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg as they seek short-term defensive cover ahead of the transfer deadline. A report has revealed a complication: Aarón Anselmino is not keen on moving and Strasbourg refuse to release Sarr without a high-level replacement arriving in his place.
The search for a new central defender dates back to Jan. 15, when Chelsea first moved to pursue reinforcements. More than two weeks on, the situation remains unresolved.
Rennes youngster Jérémy Jacquet is the club’s primary target but Rennes have shown no willingness to authorise a mid-season departure. The French side are reportedly looking for as much as €70 million (£60.7 million, $83.2 million) to entertain an exit. That stance has forced Chelsea to consider a compromise that would allow Jacquet to remain at Rennes until the summer, but such an arrangement is known to interest Liverpool and Bayern Munich as well.
Chelsea previously recalled Anselmino from a positive loan spell with Dortmund, a decision that caused confusion given Anselmino had looked set for a significant role under Rosenior. That role now appears uncertain.
The club’s preference is understood to be reuniting Rosenior with Sarr, but ownership links under BlueCo do not make such moves straightforward. Strasbourg officials are determined to keep Sarr, whose departure would exacerbate unrest among supporters already angry over the club’s perceived relationship with Chelsea as a “feeder club”.
Time is running out for Chelsea, who risk failing to conclude any of their preferred deals before Monday’s transfer deadline. Late-stage talks over Jacquet will be complicated by Rennes’ reluctance to weaken their squad and the shrinking window to identify a replacement for the 20-year-old.
Even if a summer transfer can be pre-agreed, that solution would not address Chelsea’s immediate requirement for a new centre back for the next six months.
