Chelsea suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday night, sparking frustration among fans. The loss not only ended their domestic cup hopes but also led to strong reactions regarding the future of one Players
The Blues got off to an ideal start at the AMEX Stadium when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen's mistake gifted them an early lead. However, their advantage was short-lived as Georginio Rutter equalized just seven minutes later. In the second half, Kaoru Mitoma's precise finish secured victory for Brighton, sending Chelsea crashing out of the tournament.
Following the defeat, manager Enzo Maresca was questioned about Chelsea's decision to let João Félix leave on loan to AC Milan. The Portuguese forward, who struggled for game time at Stamford Bridge, has already made an impact in Italy, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 Coppa Italia victory over Roma.
When asked if Chelsea were missing Félix, Maresca dismissed the notion, stating:
"I don't think we miss João. He is happy there, and we are happy for him. We had two striker injuries on deadline day, but Nico [Jackson] will be back very soon. Sometimes, you need to play games without certain players to realize their importance."
His comments triggered a wave of reactions from Chelsea supporters on social media, with many believing this marked the end of Félix's time at the club.
One fan wrote: "Yep, he ain't ever playing for us again even if he does well in Milan."
Another added: "Lmao. Disrespecting the player on loan like that."
A third noted: "Félix is doing so well. He wouldn't want to come back to Chelsea anyway."
With both domestic cup competitions now out of reach, Chelsea's only remaining chance at silverware lies in the UEFA Conference League. Despite the setback, Maresca remains focused on improving his squad.
"We started well, controlled the game, and created chances. The second half was similar, but it's a shame we're out. Now, we can concentrate on the Premier League and the Conference League. For me, a good season is about seeing improvement game by game, even through tough moments."
Chelsea will have an opportunity for redemption when they face Brighton again in the Premier League next Friday.
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