Chelsea Back Maresca After Brighton Red-Card Loss

Chelsea lost 3-1 at home to Brighton after Trevoh Chalobah was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, turning a 1-0 lead into defeat. Head coach Enzo Maresca criticised his players for 'giving away presents' and urged quicker learning amid a stretched injury list. Maresca said the recent slump has often coincided with dismissals, noting four of the club’s last five defeats involved red cards, and argued there is no need to panic. The club hierarchy has publicly backed Maresca and says there are no immediate plans to sack him despite critics targeting his game management and supporters booing after the loss. Chelsea have just two Premier League wins from six and face a pivotal week — Champions League hosts Benfica and a home game with Liverpool — that could shape assessments of his tenure.