Chelsea crashed out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign ended in the fourth round after a disappointing 1–2 loss to Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
The visitors started brightly and looked in control. Just four minutes in, Cole Palmer forced a comical own goal from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. However, the lead didn’t last long as they were pegged back eight minutes later.
Kaoru Mitoma gave the Seagulls the advantage in the second half, and the Blues never really looked like getting back into the game. Another below-par display from Chelsea sees them crash out of the FA Cup—Enzo Maresca’s magic seems to be fading, and the honeymoon period is well and truly over.
Chelsea’s struggles continue, with only three wins in their last ten games across all competitions. Their only realistic chance of a trophy now is the UEFA Conference League, while a top-four finish in the Premier League remains a tough challenge.
Brighton Boss Hurzeler ‘Proud’ as Mitoma’s Magic Sends Chelsea Packing
It was a much-needed win for Brighton after their humiliating 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Manager Fabian Hurzeler expressed immense pride in his players for bouncing back in style to knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup.
“I was just in the locker room and I told them I’m really proud of them, how they bounced back, how they reacted after a big loss (in the last game) and the start today,” Hurzeler told ITV Sport.
“It’s not easy to come back like this especially after a big loss and also the start today.
“But we stayed calm, stayed positive and trusted the process. I’m really proud. It was good today.”
Former Chelsea player Tariq Lamptey has struggled with injuries in recent years, but the full-back put in a terrific performance to claim the Player of the Match award.
“We all know what we get from Tariq Lamptey,” Hurzeler said. “He is a great team player and put in a very good performance.”
Enzo Maresca: ‘We Need to Learn to Win Games 1-0’
After a disappointing FA Cup exit, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca stressed the importance of winning tight games in his post-match press conference.
‘It’s for sure a shame, no doubt,’ Maresca reflected after the contest. ‘We need to learn how to win games 1-0. I said many times.
‘In the same way, in the last game against West Ham we were losing but in the end we won 2-1. That is part of the season, part of football, sometimes you are down and win and sometimes it happens like tonight.
‘But I said already to the players weeks ago – and said again tonight – that as a team we need to learn to win games 1-0. That is what big teams do.’
Maresca continued: ‘We started very good and the only shot they had in the first half was the goal. We controlled and we created some chances. In the second half, it was more of less the same; probably their only shot on goal was the second goal.
‘After the second goal, we had a few chances to draw but we missed.’
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