Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admitted that the club’s FA Cup exit against Brighton was largely due to missing Nicolas Jackson in attack, but he is untroubled by Joao Felix’s departure.
In the aftermath of their 2-1 FA Cup loss to Brighton, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been candid about the team’s attacking shortcomings. Speaking at a post-match press conference, Maresca highlighted that the absence of Nicolas Jackson—who missed the game through injury—was keenly felt both on and off the ball. With Jackson a key striker whose intensity and pressing ability often opened up spaces for his teammates, his absence left a void in a match where Chelsea managed only one shot on target. Maresca contrasted this with the situation of Joao Felix, who left for AC Milan on loan and scored 12 minutes into his debut, remarking that there was no regret in his departure as “Joao is happy there and we are happy that Joao is happy there.”
The manager also noted that while Marc Guiu, another attacking option, is facing a long-term injury, they have confidence that Jackson will return soon. Maresca emphasised the importance of having a player like Jackson, stating, “Sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are.” Despite the striker injuries—an unforeseen complication on deadline day—Maresca remains positive about the available options and is hopeful that Jackson will be fit for the next game, restoring some much-needed balance to Chelsea’s forward line.
