Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, attributed the team’s surprising loss to Swiss side Servette in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off to missed opportunities. Despite securing a 2-0 victory in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea found themselves under pressure after a 2-1 defeat in Switzerland, though they advanced to the group stage with a 3-2 aggregate score.
Chelsea initially took the lead with a goal from Christopher Nkunku, but Servette responded with two goals, turning the match in their favor. The unexpected defeat drew heavy criticism from fans, who expected Chelsea to dominate both legs of the tie.
Maresca acknowledged the shift in momentum after Chelsea conceded a goal and admitted that the match became more challenging as a result. “I think the first half an hour was comfortable, and we had three or four chances to make it 2-0,” Maresca said. “Then we conceded the goal, and it’s normal to suffer a little bit. I was very worried about this game. For them, it’s probably their biggest game of the season.”
Despite the loss, Chelsea advanced to the group stage, but the result highlighted the need for improvement in capitalizing on scoring opportunities and maintaining control in high-pressure situations.