Maresca Pinpoints Chelsea’s Weakness After Brentford Draw

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has identified game management as the key area his side must improve following their 2-2 draw against Brentford on Saturday night.

The Blues looked set to secure all three points after substitute Cole Palmer canceled out Kevin Schade’s opener and Moises Caicedo fired home a stunning long-range strike in the 86th minute. But a late goal from Fabio Carvalho denied Maresca’s men victory at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Speaking after the match, the Italian manager admitted he was frustrated with his players for failing to “put the game to sleep” once they had the lead.

“For sure in the moment that we scored the second goal we have to manage better,” Maresca said. “We scored in the 86th minute and in that moment you need to give passes, you need to slow down, you need to send the game to sleep a little bit. It’s something that we didn’t do and it’s something we need to learn.”

Opinion: Chelsea’s Naivety Still Costing Them Points

Maresca’s comments hit the nail on the head. Chelsea’s biggest enemy at the moment isn’t their lack of talent—it’s their lack of maturity in key moments.

A top team doesn’t just score; it knows how to protect a lead. Think of Manchester City under Guardiola—once they’re ahead, they dictate the tempo, starve the opponent of the ball, and frustrate them into submission. Chelsea, on the other hand, still look too eager to chase the game when patience is needed.

This isn’t just about tactics—it’s about mentality. Young, energetic sides often fall into the trap of overplaying when control is what’s required. If Maresca can instill that “killer instinct” of seeing out results, Chelsea will start turning draws into wins, and those small margins could make all the difference in their push for the top four.

For now, though, the Brentford draw is another reminder that the Blues remain a work in progress—exciting, promising, but not yet ruthless.