IPSWICH (United Kingdom) – Following their 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road, Enzo Maresca has stated that Chelsea should not compete for the Premier League title. The outcome of this match was a result of Chelsea’s three consecutive defeats to Fulham on Boxing Day, leaving them in arguably their worst-match history.
Chelsea had previously appeared like a legitimate contender for the title, having achieved an impressive eight wins in all competitions.’ In spite of the initial triumph, Maresca consistently pointed out that his team’s lack of depth was a significant issue in his first season as coach after departing from Leicester City. This year, Following their unexpected loss, Chelsea is now ranked fourth in the league, trailing behind Liverpool by 10 points.
Maresca stated that they prioritize their efforts, game by game. The title race or any other reason is not important to us. “It was a strange game, as he mentioned that they had many opportunities, but their defense struggled at times.”. Despite the fact that the first half of the season had gone smoothly, he acknowledged that it was still far from being over.
It was a big win for Ipswich.”. Their second win in as many matches rescued them from relegation by just one point. It was a major boost for the team as they secured their first home win in 22 years in the Premier League at Portman Road. Ipswich’s manager, Kieran McKenna expressed his delight with the outcome, calling it a “special night” for the club and emphasizing the importance of celebrating this achievement after enduring grueling periods.
Ipswich’s performance was unwavering from the start of the game. Liam Delap, a key player for Ipswich, immediately made his presence felt on Chelsea’s defense. Just 12 minutes had gone when Delap was fouled by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and the 30-year-old took a penalty kick. His seventh goal of the season was converted by him.
Chelsea’s response was immediate when Cole Palmer scored a free-kick that hit the post. Joao Felix’s goal was ruled offside by a VAR check, but it remains unconvincing. Palmer’s efforts to break away from Ipska and secure the win continued with a precise long-range shot that was saved by Christian Walton, who also prevented Felix’sent header shortly after.
During the second half, Chelsea’s inability to score became even more costly. Ipswich’s second goal in the 53rd minute put them further ahead.. After Axel Disasi made a mistake, Delap found Omari Hutchinson and scored into the bottom corner. The goal was of particular interest to Hutchinson as he had already been released from Chelsea’s youth program twice before.
The team was unable to make any progress in their bid for victory, and Chelsea couldn’t break through. The loss was a painful blow, as it not only hindered their chances of winning the title but also presented the possibility of falling further down the league ladder. Hoping to build on that success in their forthcoming matches, Ipswich celebrated a crucial win that significantly strengthened their chances of survival from promotion.
It’s a testament to how competitive the Premier League can be, and how quickly things can change for clubs at the other end of the table.
