‘Pressure shouldn’t be on the coach’

Sponsored by. GARY NEVILLE has slammed Chelsea’s board for an “unforgivable mistake” following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton. The Blues were run ragged on the south coast as they lost to the Seagulls for the second time in less than a week. Brighton first dumped Chelsea out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win last weekend. And on Friday night they fired three goals past the Londoners in a league clash at the Amex, inflicting back-to-back defeats on Enzo Maresca.

Image Credit: The Sun [Todd Boehly watching a soccer match.]

Chelsea’s woeful form has now seen them drop to sixth in the table. They are 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who still have a game in hand. And the potential title race promised earlier in the season now looks set to be a battle just to finish in the European places. To make matters worse, Chelsea are now light on forwards following injuries to strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu. Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable as he awaits the results of the B-sample for his positive drugs test.

Image Credit: The Sun [Gary Neville, Sky Sports commentator, speaking into a microphone.]

While Joao Felix was packed off on loan to AC Milan on deadline day of the winter window. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. Noni Madueke became the latest casualty as he limped off the field last night. While in the backline, Chelsea continue to leak goals regardless of whether Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen start. Now, Neville has hit out at those running the show at Stamford Bridge. However, he does not feel the blame lies with beleaguered boss Maresca.

Instead, he reckons Todd Boehly and Co are to blame for spending over a BILLION pounds without bringing in a top-class striker and goalie. Neville, who last year called Chelsea “billion-pound bottle jobs” after their Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool’s kids, said: “The pressure should be on the people who are recruiting the players. “To leave out of a billion pound (project), positions like centre forward and a goalkeeper is unforgivable.

“The pressure should not be on the coach at all. “It’s very difficult to play football without a centre forward and goalkeeper.”. HOW SunSport's ISABELLE BARKER rated Chelsea flops as the Blues failed to muster a single shot on target in a 3-0 loss to Brighton,. FILIP JORGENSEN 5. Jorgensen wasn't all to blame for letting in the three goals, particularly Kaoru Mitoma's wonder strike. But Chelsea fans will be thinking 'be careful what you wish for' with Rob Sanchez not looking so bad anymore.

MALO GUSTO 6. Gusto stood his ground well at times with Mitoma one-on-one for some of Chelsea’s better defending in the match. LEVI COLWILL 5. When Colwill lost the ball under minimal pressure and stayed on the ground, making no attempt to recover his position it summed up his game. Twice in two matches he’s given goals away for being weak. TREVOH CHALOBAH 5. The centre-back flapped about when marking Mitoma for the opener.

MARC CUCURELLA 5. Struggled to keep Yankuba Minteh in check and was fully sat down by the Gambia winger for Brighton’s third goal - much to the pleasure of the booing home fans. MOISES CAICEDO 7. Caicedo was jeered by chants of "what a waste of money". But he has been one of the Blues’ only bright sparks for the last six months and, even today, he was Maresca’s best player. ENZO FERNANDEZ 6. The Chelsea skipper was unlucky not to have nabbed an equaliser after rising above Joel Veltman on 36 minutes to head home - but he fouled the Dutchman in the build up. Looked sluggish in other areas of the game though.

NONI MADUEKE 5. Had little influence as he was substituted off on 20 minutes due to a hamstring injury. The Blues are running out of forwards with him joining Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu on the injured list. COLE PALMER 5. Palmer was reeling throughout both halves, constantly throwing his hands up in frustration at the lack of service from his teammates. He blazed well over, when he did have a shot and the Blues didn’t have a single effort on target.

PEDRO NETO 5. It was not clear what Neto’s purpose was on the pitch, he only really looked good at sprinting and still couldn’t beat Tariq Lamptey in a 1v1. CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU 5. Nkunku did a very good job at jogging around and not doing a lot. Blues would probably rather see Jackson starting if he wasn’t also out injured. JADON SANCHO 5. Sancho looks as though he is doing what he did at Manchester United, starting well but going off the boil. In his last 11 games across all competitions, he has nabbed just one assist.