Eghbali Turns Up the Heat on Maresca After Brighton Blow

Chelsea’s 3–1 defeat to Brighton at Stamford Bridge has deepened scrutiny on head coach Enzo Maresca, with co-owner Behdad Eghbali reportedly entering the dressing room after the match in a clear show of concern from the club’s hierarchy.

Chelsea had started strongly and took the lead through Enzo Fernández, dominating possession for much of the first half. However, the turning point came early in the second half when Trevoh Chalobah was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. With the team reduced to ten men, Brighton seized control and completed a late comeback with two goals that left the home crowd frustrated.

Maresca’s in-game decisions have now come into question, especially given Chelsea’s repeated struggles when going down to ten men. Earlier in the season, a defeat to Manchester United followed a red card for goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, and critics believe the manager has not adapted effectively to these setbacks.

The injury situation has compounded the pressure. Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo are both sidelined, Chalobah faces suspension, and Cole Palmer’s absence has weakened the squad further. These challenges, combined with tactical missteps, have raised tensions behind the scenes.

After the match, Maresca acknowledged ongoing discipline issues, remarking that the team “cannot continue to give away presents.” He confirmed that although members of the club’s leadership entered the dressing room, they did not address the players directly, describing it as part of the usual post-match protocol.

Even so, the presence of Eghbali and senior football officials was widely interpreted as a sign of rising impatience at board level. With results faltering and expectations high, Maresca now faces a critical spell in which he must produce improvements quickly to ease mounting pressure from above.