Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca says it is up to fans to decide whether to back the team after his players were booed off at half-time during their 2-2 draw with Ipswich.
Stamford Bridge responded furiously as Maresca’s side fell two goals behind against an Ipswich team on the brink of relegation and, although they fought back through an Axel Tuanzebe own goal and a stunning late effort from Jadon Sancho, the point did little to bolster their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
The Blues dominated the opening 20 minutes, but the game turned when Brighton loanee Julio Enciso tapped in Ben Johnson’s cutback against the run of play for the visitors, then Johnson was himself the scorer when heading in Enciso’s cross to make it 2-0.
That goal saw goalkeeper Robert Sanchez eschew the head coach’s preferred method of building the play from the back, choosing instead to punt the ball long, which led to Ipswich mounting an attack through the centre from which they scored.
“We are a team that most of the time our goal-kicks we play short,” said Maresca, who has previously said he would substitute players that did not carry out his instructions regarding playing out from the back.
The head coach appeared to suggest supporters’ frustrations with the team’s slow build-up play was what hurried Sanchez into playing a pass that led to his team conceding.
“The second goal we decided to play long because of the environment and we conceded the second one,” said Maresca.
“We conceded a goal when (the players) decided to play long ball, but sometimes (if) you go long it doesn’t mean you are going to control things. The second goal we conceded was (like) that.
“We are stronger with our fans, we are a better team. It’s up to them to decide the way. When we were 0-1, 0-2, it’s normal for them to be the way they were.”
The result, though admirable under the circumstances, did not greatly improve Ipswich’s dim hopes of staying up. In fact the gap to safety now stands at 14 points after Wolves beat Tottenham.
Maresca''s post-match thoughts.#CFC | #CHEIPS pic.twitter.com/DmffdMMmC9
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 13, 2025
It means relegation could be confirmed as early as next Sunday when Arsenal visit Portman Road.
Despite their top-flight adventure looking set to come to an end after one season, the travelling fans lent a raucous support to their team and applauded them off at the end.
“The reaction (from the fans) was deserved,” said manager Kieran McKenna. “I think the players and supporters did themselves proud.
“The second half I thought we played better than in the first half. We were disappointed to concede right from kick-off (in the second half). That was a setback, but I thought the response was very good.
Unreal support. 💙#CHEIPS pic.twitter.com/yQ5FnwxMzx
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) April 13, 2025
“It was a brilliant moment from Sancho to make it 2-2.
“I think Chelsea had the better chances over the game, but for the amount we created, for an away team I think we deserved something.
“I think we can take great pride in it. The journey our players have been on is huge so I’m proud that they could come here and compete.”
Sandy Baltimore’s brace inspired Chelsea to a 3-0 FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United and sealed an unbeaten domestic treble for Sonia Bompastor’s serial winners in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley.Bompastor had already led the Blues to league cup glory and a sixth successive Women’s Super League title in her first season in charge at Chelsea, who became the first sid...
Everton manager David Moyes felt the final Goodison Park farewell offered a glimpse of what the future could be like when the love affair between fans and the club is rekindled.Iliman Ndiaye scored the last goals in a 2-0 victory over Southampton as the ground signed off 133 years of men’s senior football.The new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock offers a chance for a reset for a club which, for...
Iliman Ndiaye scored the last goals at Goodison Park as Everton signed off 133 years of history with a fitting 2-0 win over an abject Southampton.Nottingham Forest’s Horace Pike had the honour of being first on the scoresheet here in September 1892 – Fred Geary registered the Toffees’ first in the 2-2 draw – but Senegal international Ndiaye had the final say.The 2,791st men...
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner hailed his players for writing a new chapter in Crystal Palace’s history following their 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal and Dean Henderson’s penalty save paved the way for Palace to land their first major trophy and a spot in the Europa League next season.“We said before the game that we wanted t...
Pep Guardiola was unhappy about Dean Henderson’s time wasting in Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat – but the Spaniard refused to be drawn on whether the Crystal Palace goalkeeper should have been sent off.An angry Guardiola exchanged words with Henderson after the final whistle following City’s 1-0 loss at Wembley, which leaves them without a trophy this season and stil...
Airdrieonians secured their place in the Scottish Championship for another season as they beat Cove Rangers 2-1 on aggregate in their play-off final after a 0-0 second-leg draw at Excelsior Stadium.The early stages saw Lewis McGrattan bring a good save out of Cove goalkeeper Nicholas Suman, before counterpart Cade Melrose did well at the other end as he blocked Adam Emslie’s shot with his fo...
Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal fired Crystal Palace to the first major trophy in their history as they secured a 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester City at Wembley.Eze put Palace ahead with their first attack of the match before an inspired Dean Henderson saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty.However, Henderson could count himself fortunate to still be on the pitch after he earlier appeared t...
East Kilbride won promotion to Scottish League Two for the first time and sent Bonnyrigg Rose down after a 0-0 draw at New Dundas Park saw the visitors triumph 3-1 on aggregate.Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Paddy Martin did well to keep out a Joao Balde strike in the 24th minute, before Aaron Arnott fired over at the other end.Kerr Young was unable to make the most of two chances for the hosts midway throu...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Manchester City's nightmare season will end without a trophy Dean Huijsen is just a chill guy joining Real Madrid Pep, Arteta Crystal Palace FA Cup Champion 2024/25🏆Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City In a world of elite strikers… there stands one king OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi will face The BEAST He Created! Has he got the Arsenal curse? Please stay tuned...
Carlo Ancelotti's future as the new Brazil manager is in serious danger as the five-time World Cup winners have been warned they could be expelled from the 2026 competition.Ancelotti had been announced as the new Brazil manager for the upcoming World Cup campaign, joining after the season with Real Madrid comes to an end.Since then, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) risks being barred fro...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 4 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 5 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 6 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 7 Mat Sadler hails Walsall’s ‘fighting performance’ after win in play-off first leg
- 8 David Gray thanks Hibernian board for showing faith in him after securing third
- 9 Airdrieonians earn first-leg lead over Cove in play-offs
- 10 Flick lauds Yamal, as Barca nears title