Negatives
1. Injuries Take Their Toll
Chelsea started the season with impressive squad depth, but injuries are beginning to bite. Reece James and Wesley Fofana are sidelined until 2025, while Mykhailo Mudryk, João Félix, Romeo Lavia, and Benoît Badiashile were unavailable for this match. Ben Chilwell, though out of favor, was missing due to illness.
As a result, Chelsea’s bench featured four teenagers who had played in Thursday’s match. The silver lining? Maresca confirmed Félix and Lavia should be fit for next weekend.
2. Missed Clean Sheet Opportunity
Brentford ranks among the bottom three in goals scored away from home, making Chelsea’s late concession particularly disappointing. Levi Colwill failed to maintain the offside trap, allowing Mbeumo to latch onto a through ball and score. Such lapses highlight why Chelsea remains outside the title race.
3. Marc Cucurella’s Controversial Red Card
After the final whistle, Marc Cucurella received a second yellow card and was sent off for “aggressive attitude.” The decision baffled many, as replays suggested he did little to warrant a card. Even the first yellow card he was given seemed harsh as he won the ball. Earlier in the match, Cucurella was violently brought down in the box during a corner, with no action taken against the Brentford player—further evidence of inconsistent officiating.