Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca believes his team gained a crucial lesson from their frustrating FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Despite taking an early lead, the Blues struggled to maintain their attacking rhythm and ultimately fell short.
However, Maresca highlighted one major takeaway from the loss—the undeniable importance of Nicolas Jackson to the squad.
The Italian coach admitted that Jackson’s absence significantly impacted Chelsea’s performance.
The Senegalese forward was sidelined due to injury, depriving the team of energy and attacking presence.
Maresca emphasized that Jackson’s pressing and movement are vital to Chelsea’s tactical approach, both on and off the ball.
“Sometimes, you only truly understand a player’s value when they are not available,” Maresca stated.
“Nico’s pressing is always strong when we don’t have possession, and with the ball, he is a constant threat.”
Fortunately for Chelsea, Maresca confirmed that Jackson is on track to return for their upcoming Premier League clash against Brighton, a match that now carries extra significance following their FA Cup exit.
The Italian coach reassured fans that the team is still in the development phase and must navigate setbacks to grow into genuine title contenders.
“For me, a successful season isn’t just about results but about seeing continuous improvement,” he explained.
“Difficult moments and setbacks are part of the process. It’s the only way this club can reach a level where we compete for major trophies.”
In the aftermath of the defeat, some Chelsea supporters questioned the club’s decision to let Joao Felix leave on loan to AC Milan, particularly given the team’s struggles in front of goal.
However, Maresca defended the move, arguing that Felix is content in Italy and that Chelsea has the depth to manage without him.
“I don’t think we are missing Joao,” Maresca asserted.
“He is happy at Milan, and we are happy for him.
We had an unfortunate situation with two striker injuries on deadline day, which is difficult to prepare for, but Nico will be back soon to strengthen us.”
While Chelsea analyzed their shortcomings, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler expressed his satisfaction with his team’s response after their humiliating 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their previous outing.
The German coach praised his players for bouncing back with resilience.
“I am really proud of the way we reacted,” Hurzeler said.
“After a heavy defeat, it’s crucial not to overreact but to focus on improvement.”
He singled out two key contributors—Tariq Lamptey and Kaoru Mitoma.
The latter scored the winning goal for Brighton and recently rejected a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his commitment to the club.
With Jackson set to return, Chelsea now turns their attention to their upcoming Premier League fixture against Brighton.
Maresca will be aiming for a much-improved performance and a return to winning ways.
