Chelsea owners escalate pressure on Maresca after Brighton defeat

Chelsea’s hierarchy, led by co-owner Behdad Eghbali, visited head coach Enzo Maresca in the dressing room after their latest Premier League defeat, a setback that kept the club mired in a difficult spell this season. The gathering, described by those present as intense but tightly controlled, marked another moment in a season defined by high expectations and growing frustration among Stamford Bridge’s ownership group.

Behdad Eghbali, alongside sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and recruitment staff Joe Shields and Sam Jewell, spoke with Maresca in private after the full-time whistle following the loss to Brighton. Maresca emerged to face the media with a message that has since reverberated through the club: the team cannot keep presenting opponents with easy openings or “presents” in matches, a reference to avoidable red cards and reckless errors that have cost Chelsea points in recent weeks. “Against any team in the Premier League, you cannot continue to give away presents, because what we are doing in this moment is giving away presents in terms of red cards,” he said. “That is a big mistake because the game completely changed.”

Maresca said the dressing-room presence of the club’s senior leadership was notable, but described a post-match routine that differed from the norm. He recalled: “There is an office inside the changing room where, after every game, we sit and talk about the game, but they didn't say nothing to the players. It was nothing, completely different compared to the rest of the team.” The remarks underscored how the Chelsea hierarchy has maintained its schedule in the aftermath of games while choosing to maintain a careful distance from the players in the immediate aftermath of losses.

The game against Brighton again showcased Chelsea’s inconsistency. Chelsea had control in the first half, generating chances and holding 70 percent possession at one stage, but a red card changed the complexion of the match. Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed after a review by the referee, Simon Hooper, which proved pivotal as the visitors capitalized and overturned a lead to claim victory. Maresca acknowledged the swing, saying, “We were in control of the game. We had so many shots in the first half, 70 per cent possession, everything was fine. Then suddenly, because of our mistake, with the red card again, the plan completely changed.”

The latest defeat came after a separate setback at Old Trafford, where Chelsea were reduced to 10 men in a match that ultimately ended 2-1 in Manchester United’s favor. The sequence of events over recent weeks — a high-profile red card against United followed by another in Brighton — has intensified scrutiny of Maresca’s management and the team’s ability to clamp down on avoidable mistakes.

Inside the club, the ownership group has long maintained an explicit presence in the post-match process, but the current visit to the dressing room highlighted a recalibration in how they engage with the manager and players after difficult results. Maresca’s comments hint at a broader conversation about accountability and standards, even as he defended the team’s performance in spells. The Chelsea chairman and owners are reportedly seeking signs of tangible improvement on the field while balancing the realities of a squad undergoing transition under new leadership.

As the season unfolds, Chelsea’s personnel decisions, development plans, and tactical direction remain under close watch from the owners, with Maresca facing a critical test: translate competitive performance and discipline on the pitch into consistent results while navigating the pressure from the boardroom. The club has not disclosed any immediate changes to the coaching staff, but sources indicate the emphasis on reducing avoidable errors will likely shape discussions in the weeks ahead.