Enzo Maresca's relationship with the Chelsea faithful hit a new low as his side were held to a chaotic 2-2 draw by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, with the manager subjected to vocal dissent from the home support.
Stamford Bridge Boos as Blues Stumble Again
The discontent was palpable in West London. Maresca was openly jeered when he substituted Cole Palmer in the second half, a decision met with chants of "You don't know what you're doing" from the stands. This frustration stemmed from another performance where Chelsea, despite taking the lead, failed to secure victory. The result means Chelsea have now dropped a league-high 13 points from winning positions at home this season, with just one win in their last seven Premier League outings.
A Bonkers First Half of Shambolic Defending
The match was a spectacle of defensive uncertainty from the outset. Bournemouth, who may have seen a final energetic display from winger Antoine Semenyo amid links to Manchester City, exploited Chelsea's glaring weakness. David Brooks opened the scoring in the sixth minute, capitalising on a flick-on from a long Semenyo throw-in that Chelsea failed to deal with.
Chelsea responded through a contentious Cole Palmer penalty, awarded after a VAR review, and then took a 2-1 lead via a wonderful curled effort from Enzo Fernández. However, their vulnerability was exposed again from an identical source. Another Semenyo long throw led to Justin Kluivert's equaliser just before the half-hour mark, with Chelsea's marking non-existent. Bournemouth's 14 first-half shots were the most by any visiting side at Stamford Bridge since records began in 2003.
Pressure Mounts on Maresca's Erratic Project
The second half saw Chelsea exert more control but fail to find a winner, with Fernández blazing a late chance over the bar. The draw leaves more questions than answers for Maresca's project. Key issues highlighted include:
- Poor game management and an inability to hold onto leads.
- Defensive fragility, particularly from set-pieces; they have conceded four goals from throw-ins this term.
- A growing disconnect with a fanbase growing impatient with erratic results.
For Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola will be pleased with a spirited point, though they finished the game hanging on. The result does little to lift the mood at Chelsea, who must now prepare for a daunting trip to face Manchester City, a match for which they will be without the suspended Moisés Caicedo.
