“We expected this kind of moment” – Maresca lifts the lid on why he’s not surprised about Chelsea dip in form | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has admitted he expected a dip in form to come this season after the Blues slipped to defeat against Ipswich on Monday night.

Chelsea were second best for most of the 90 minutes as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against the Tractor Boys, meaning they have now taken just one point from the last nine and have lost back to back games.

The defeat means Chelsea stay fourth, and two points behind surprise package Nottingham Forest in second, although the gap to Newcastle in fifth has now closed to three points.

Maresca expected dip in form

Maresca made four changes to the side that lost to Fulham on Boxing Day with Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku all handed rare starts.

The Blues were unlucky to concede a penalty when Jorgensen was judged to have fouled Liam Delap in the box, with Maresca full of praise again for striker.

Felix had a goal ruled out for offside, whilst a number of efforts were blocked, and it just turned into one of those nights for the Blues, with Disasi giving the ball away cheaply, with former Blue Omari Hutchinson scoring the second goal.

Chelsea endured a difficult night at Portman Road. (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It means that Chelsea have scored just once in their last three games and maybe shows the squad depth isn’t as good as people first thought.

Maresca has admitted Chelsea are a long way from competing, whilst the Italian felt there was plenty of room for improvement defensively.

Chelsea are still a young and inexperienced team, and this blip doesn’t undo the good start to the season, with Maresca revealing he expected a moment like this to come.

“We expected this kind of moment during the season because we know that this kind of moment belongs to the football. It is almost impossible to have a season where you do not have a moment like now for us,” he told his post match press conference.

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“But in the same time, not one of us in this room expected us to be where we are now. This means and shows that we are in the right direction, as I’ve said many times, but also shows that we are far from competing and consistency and to be there with the best teams in England.

“Again, I think we have to be satisfied where we are but at the same time, we have to know we need to do many things better.”