- Chelsea secured a 2-1 win over Brentford at home, extending their winning streak to seven consecutive matches across all competitions
- Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson scored for Chelsea, while Bryan Mbeumo scored a consolation goal for Brentford in the final minute of regulation time
- Cucurella was sent off after the match ended, receiving a second yellow card for an altercation with opposing players
- The win moves Chelsea within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand
- Chelsea’s assistant manager, Enzo Maresca, downplayed the team’s title chances, stating that they are “not ready” and need to be realistic about their expectations
Key Takeaways:
Chelsea continued their impressive run of form with a 2-1 win over Brentford at home, marking their seventh consecutive victory across all competitions. The Blues took the lead just before halftime through Marc Cucurella’s goal, and Nicolas Jackson added a second in the 80th minute. Although Bryan Mbeumo scored a consolation goal for the visitors in the final minute of regulation time, Chelsea held on for the win.
Chelsea made 21 crosses in the first half against Brentford. The Blues league average is 15 crosses per 90.
And their lone goal came from one of the crosses. #gameplan pic.twitter.com/mTwo5wAnUm
— Chelsea Stats (@ChelseaYW_) December 15, 2024
However, the match ended on a sour note for Cucurella, who was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for an altercation with opposing players, with the game already finished. Despite this, Chelsea’s focus will be on building on their momentum and closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool. With their latest win, Chelsea moved within two points of the Reds, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, was cautious in his assessment of the team’s title chances, stating that they are “not ready” to compete for the top prize. Maresca emphasized that while the fans can dream about the title, the team needs to be realistic about their expectations and focus on improving their performance. “For me, we are not ready” the Italian specialist said. “You can talk about the title and the fans can dream about the title, absolutely. If you ask me, I will tell you what I think. We’re not ready but we are happy the fans can dream.”
Maresca also commented on Chelsea’s proximity to the top of the table, stating that it’s not about the number of games they win, but about being realistic about their chances. “It’s not about how many games we win, it’s about being realistic. There are things we have to do better” he said.