Enzo Maresca reveals why Chelsea can be 'satisfied' despite Ipswich loss as dip in form proves point | OneFootball

Chelsea frustrated on a difficult night at Portman Road

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea’s sudden dip in form proves they are “far from competing” with England’s top clubs, but insists his side can be “satisfied” with their position at the midway point of the season.

The result follows the Boxing Day defeat to Fulham and a goalless draw at Everton just before Christmas, a run which has seen the Blues slip well off the title pace.

Maresca, though, has always insisted that his young team are ahead of schedule and, with Chelsea fourth heading into the New Year, says he is pleased with the first half of their campaign as a whole.

“We expected this kind of moment during the season because we know that this kind of moment belongs to the football,” the Italian explained. “It is almost impossible to have a season where you do not have a moment like now for us.

“But in the same time, 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 and consistency and to be there with the best teams in England.

“Again, I think we have to be satisfied where we are but at the same time, we have to know we need to do many things better.”

Joao Felix had a goal disallowed for offside in Chelsea’s loss against Ipswich.

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The Blues have endured a busy December and Maresca made five changes to his side for the trip to Portman Road, with even his deep squad stretched by a series of injuries.

However, the 44-year-old rubbished the idea that fatigue played a part in his team’s poor display.

“Tonight’s game, I don’t think it’s physical or condition,” he added. “When you play and you don’t create chances, you don’t create nothing and you are not dangerous, then you can say we probably struggled physically, we are not good enough, or we are not fresh.

“But when you create so many chances, the post, the amount of chances, the VAR; I think we have so many chances in the first-half. In the second-half, we started in the same way. We have two clear chances and then the second goal kills the game.

“It is just a matter that sometimes it is not the right day for us.”