Enzo Maresca was disenchanted after Chelsea’s ‘poor run’ continued in opposition to Aston Villa however was glad to see one tactical shift bear fruit.
Enzo Fernandez’s early purpose gave Chelsea a first-half lead at Villa Park however the hosts scored two second-half targets to win 2-1.
Marco Asensio scored each of Villa’s targets and fellow January signing Marcus Rashford recorded two assists in a formidable second-half cameo for Unai Emery’s aspect.
It was Chelsea’s third defeat in 4 league video games and Maresca admitted it was ‘robust’ to take as he felt his aspect deserved at the very least some extent.
Maresca was, nonetheless, happy with Pedro Neto’s efficiency after experimenting with the Wolves winger in a striker position in coaching this week.
Neto began as a striker as Chelsea prime goalscorer Nicolas Jackson stays injured and Christopher Nkunku struggled in that place within the successive defeats to Brighton.
‘It’s a robust one,’ stated Maresca. ‘As a result of in comparison with the sport in opposition to Brighton, the efficiency and response had been good.
‘For the time being, we’re in a nasty run. However we have to stick collectively and attempt to win video games. I’ve a sense we’ll go once more if we win a recreation.
‘Till that, we have to work onerous and attempt to get the win as quickly as attainable. We created many probabilities. Final two video games, we struggled with that and lacked a menace.
‘At present, Pedro [Neto] performed very well and we tried with him in the course of the week. It really works properly with him. However we didn’t win and now we have to be upset.
‘If you’re not medical, this league is at all times open – if you happen to make a mistake, like we did within the second purpose sadly. When now we have the prospect, now we have to take that.
‘As soon as once more right this moment, we confirmed we might be good for lengthy components of the sport. However that’s not sufficient. The efficiency must be full.
‘We have to rating targets when now we have the prospect and defend properly, however I assumed we defended properly right this moment. It’s a second had been we had been additionally a bit unfortunate.’
Aston Villa’s late winner got here courtesy of a howler from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who didn’t maintain out Asensio’s tame effort.
Maresca dropped Chelsea No. 1 Robert Sanchez for Jorgensen earlier within the month however faces the same dilemma with the Denmark U21 worldwide.
Requested if he was involved by the goalkeeping scenario at Stamford Bridge, Maresca added: ‘I’m at all times involved, even after we had been profitable video games, I used to be involved. Now for certain.
‘The issue with that with goalkeepers, it’s a delicate place and after they make a mistake, everybody can see.
‘Sadly right this moment, our goalkeeper [Filip Jorgensen] made a mistake. This can be a second we have to help one another and attempt to keep robust.’
The consequence means Chelsea keep sixth within the Premier League – one level outdoors the Champions League spots – whereas Aston Villa climb to seventh, one level behind Maresca’s aspect.
Villa boss Emery stated: ‘Within the final match at dwelling [against Liverpool], we had been taking part in roughly good nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. We will get factors by taking part in properly but additionally by making an attempt to keep away from errors.
‘Enjoying Chelsea right this moment was an excellent take a look at. We began very badly – conceding the purpose and never profitable duels. However we had been bettering and within the second half, I used to be considering we could possibly be drained.
‘However we had been assured and dominated the match roughly. The gamers did a incredible job. That was our plan. We performed 90 minutes very constant and focussed on our recreation plan.
‘We had probabilities in opposition to Liverpool and Ipswich City however we didn’t rating so getting this victory right this moment is essential.
‘Power is essential. We had been talking within the dressing room at half-time we would have liked to recuperate power.
‘On the sector, they needed to transmit power and within the second half, they did it. They did all the things. The affect gamers had been incredible.’
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