Now I Realize How Important”—Enzo Maresca Says Brighton FA Cup Defeat Made Him Realize One Star Is Undroppable

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca believes his squad gained a vital lesson from their disappointing FA Cup defeat to Brighton. Despite scoring first, the Blues struggled in attack and ultimately lost. However, Maresca emphasized one key insight from the match—Nicolas Jackson’s significance to the team.

Maresca acknowledged that Jackson’s absence had a major impact. The Senegalese striker missed the game due to injury, leaving Chelsea without energy and attacking threat. The Italian coach underlined the importance of Jackson’s pressing and movement to their style of play.

“Sometimes you need to play games without certain players to realize how important they are,” Maresca said. “Off the ball, his pressing is always very good, and on the ball, he is always a threat.”

Maresca confirmed that Jackson is expected to return for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Brighton next week, a fixture that carries extra weight following their FA Cup elimination.

Maresca urged fans to remain patient despite the loss, explaining that the squad is still growing and must overcome difficulties to become title contenders.

“For me, a good season is about seeing the team improve game after game,” Maresca explained. “Going through bad moments and difficulties is the only way this club can compete for something important.”

Many Chelsea supporters questioned why the club allowed Joao Felix to leave on loan to AC Milan, especially after their attacking struggles. However, Maresca defended the decision, insisting that Felix is happy in Italy and Chelsea can cope without him.

“I don’t think we miss Joao,” Maresca said. “He is happy there, and we are happy that he is happy. We had two striker injuries on deadline day, which is difficult to plan for, but Nico will be back very soon.”

While Chelsea focused on their shortcomings, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler expressed delight with his team’s response following their 7-0 humiliation against Nottingham Forest in their previous match.

“I am really proud of how we bounced back from a big loss,” Hurzeler said. “It is very important not to overreact to setbacks.”

He also praised two key players—Tariq Lamptey and Kaoru Mitoma. The latter, who netted Brighton’s winner, recently turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his commitment to the club.

Chelsea will now shift their attention to the Premier League, where they will face Brighton again. With Jackson expected to return, Maresca will be hoping for an improved performance and a return to winning ways.