Head coach Enzo Maresca expressed disappointment after Chelsea “lost control” during their Champions League clash against Chelsea, resulting in a 2-1 loss in Bergamo to Atalanta.
The Blues took the lead at halftime thanks to a near-post finish from João Pedro, but things turned around in the second half as the Italian side fought back.
Initially, Gianluca Scamacca, a former West Ham player, equalized with a header just 10 minutes into the second half. Then, a brilliant late strike from Charles De Ketelaere sealed the win, smashing the ball past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
“After conceding the first goal, we lost control,” Maresca mentioned. “In the second half, we had two good opportunities to secure a second goal. Once we conceded the equalizer, our concentration faded. Both goals we let in were avoidable; they were straightforward mistakes.”
At halftime, Chelsea seemed to be in command, poised for a win that would have steered them toward automatic qualification for the last 16.
However, the substitutions of the influential Trevoh Chalobah, who had received a booking, and Enzo Fernández, disrupted the team’s rhythm and allowed Atalanta to mount their comeback.
“Both substitutions were necessary since Trev and Enzo have been playing every minute of every match,” Maresca explained. “Neither was at 100 percent; Trev was on a yellow card, which prompted the changes.”
Chelsea may now require victories in both of their remaining fixtures.
They will host Cypriot side Pafos at Stamford Bridge in January, followed by a challenging trip to face Napoli, led by Antonio Conte.
Should they fail to secure maximum points, a playoff match in February is likely, complicating an already congested schedule.
“We are keenly aware of how crowded our schedule might become with a potential playoff,” Maresca affirmed. “Now that the game is over, our focus shifts to Saturday’s match against Everton. We need to win.”
“Winning both games is probably essential. Sixteen points might position you in the top eight, though I’m uncertain. To secure a top-eight finish, we definitely need both wins.”
After João Pedro’s goal, the game opened up, allowing Atalanta to capitalize shortly after the hour mark. The impressive De Ketelaere maneuvered into space on the right, and as the cross came in, Scamacca was left unchecked in the six-yard box to head it down past Sánchez.
A draw might have been a fair outcome, but with just seven minutes left, De Ketelaere outpaced Marc Cucurella and launched the decisive goal past Sánchez.
“We certainly conceded two goals that were avoidable,” Maresca added. “After conceding the first goal, we must maintain control, but I sensed we lost that control after we conceded.”