Chelsea’s promising resurgence was abruptly halted by a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton, intensifying the pressure on their Conference League run as the club’s only realistic shot at silverware this season.
Chelsea’s brief signs of revival were immediately overshadowed by their disappointing 2-1 loss to Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round, leaving the club’s aspirations for domestic success in tatters. The defeat, which saw Brighton secure their victory through a late winner from Kaoru Mitoma following an early own goal by Chelsea’s Bart Verbruggen, exposed the Blues’ lack of attacking urgency and highlighted deficiencies in their forward play. Manager Enzo Maresca lamented the team’s inability to capitalise on chances and emphasised that the injuries to key forwards have severely limited their options, forcing them to rely on a makeshift attacking setup.
With only a single realistic chance left to end the season with a piece of silverware through the UEFA Conference League, Chelsea now face an uphill battle. The loss at Brighton not only dampened hopes for a sustained revival but also amplified concerns about the club’s strategic planning and squad depth. The pressure is mounting on Maresca and his staff to produce results in Europe, as the club’s long-held tradition of winning trophies becomes increasingly elusive in a season already marred by inconsistency.
