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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was left fuming after his side’s Premier League title hopes took a hit in a surprising 3-1 loss at struggling Leeds on Wednesday.
The Blues were punished for a dismal first-half showing at Elland Road, with Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka giving Leeds a 2-0 lead. Pedro Neto reduced the deficit shortly after the break, but Chelsea’s frailties were exposed once again when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a comical third goal late on.
The defeat to a side sitting fourth from bottom, which had lost its previous four league games, leaves Chelsea nine points behind leaders Arsenal and marks their first loss in eight matches across all competitions.
“There was nobody at their best level,” Maresca admitted. “They were better than us in all aspects and deserved to win. A very poor night. We performed well against Arsenal and Barcelona, but we can’t expect to always replicate that form. The only thing we can do is learn from this and reset.”
Chelsea were without midfielder Moises Caicedo, suspended after a red card against Arsenal, and Maresca had rotated several other key players, including Neto, Reece James, and Wesley Fofana. The Blues appeared fatigued from recent exertions, and Leeds capitalised on their lack of intensity.
After an early corner set up Bijol’s opener, Tanaka struck a thunderous second goal just before half-time, putting Chelsea firmly on the back foot. Neto’s 50th-minute strike offered a brief glimmer of hope, but Chelsea’s defensive errors allowed Calvert-Lewin to secure the decisive third.
Maresca also brought on Cole Palmer for his first appearance in two months alongside Alejandro Garnacho, but the pair were unable to turn the game around.
