Courtesy: Google
Enzo Maresca on Monday claimed that Chelsea are not focused on Premier League title race after Ipswich defeated them 2-0 at the Portman Road. Maresca's squad was rocked by Liam Delap's 12th-minute penalty and former Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson's second-half goal. Chelsea's second consecutive set-back, following their Boxing Day loss to Fulham, left them without a win in their last three games. Following an eight-match winning streak in all competitions earlier this month, the West Londoners emerged as unexpected title candidates.
Maresca has his own take over the loss and insisted Chelsea currently has a naïve squad and does not have what it needs to win the title in the first season. "We focus game by game. We are not focused on title races or those things. It was a strange game. We had many chances, but we could do many things better, defend better in some moments," he said.
We are not focused on title race or those things: Enzo Maresca
The Chelsea head coach had earlier mentioned that he expected this moment during the ongoing season as it happens in football. Chelsea currently stand fourth in the table, 10 points off from Liverpool. "Not one of us in this room expected us to be where we are now. This means and shows that we are in the right direction, as I’ve said many times, but also shows that we are far from competing [with] consistency and to be there with the best teams in England," Enzo Marseca said.
Delap, Ipswich Town's top scorer, won an early disputed penalty kick, which he hammered past Filip Jorgensen in the 12th minute after Chelsea's backup goal-keeper was punished for slight contact. The goal gave Kieran McKenna's squad a critical lead to hold onto, and after the visitors squandered several chances, the hosts extended their lead just after half-time.
Ipswich's first Premier League home victory since 2002 was a worthy wait for the Portman Road faithful as McKenna said it was the "best achievement" of his remarkable three-year tenure at the club. "It’s definitely one of the best achievements in terms of a win, there is no doubt about that," he remarked.
