Enzo Maresca concerned as Atalanta fight back to beat Chelsea

BERGAMO – Enzo Maresca admitted he was “worried” by Chelsea’s slump after Atalanta’s 2-1 victory in the Champions League extended the Blues’ winless run to four matches on Tuesday.

Joao Pedro’s first-ever Champions League goal put the Blues ahead in the first half in Bergamo.

But Maresca’s men lost their momentum after the interval and former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca grabbed the equaliser before Charles De Ketelaere, who provided the assist for Atalanta’s leveller, capped his influential display with the late winner.

Chelsea found it impossible to subdue Belgium forward De Ketelaere, who has six goals and seven assists in his last 12 Champions League appearances.

Since their memorable 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on November 25, the Blues have gone four matches without a victory in all competitions.

Maresca’s 11th-placed side have 10 points from six league phase games and their bid for a top-eight finish – which guarantees automatic qualification for the last 16 – is now on a knife-edge.

“I am always worried. Two points in four games is not what we expect and we have to do better,” Maresca said. “First half we were winning, we were good and controlling the game. After we conceded the first goal, we lost control a little bit of the game.

“We had different chances to make it 2-0 and when we conceded 1-1 the dynamic changed a little bit.

“We are playing every two days. For a moment we looked like we struggled a bit. Now it’s about trying to win the next game.”

Third-placed Atalanta have enjoyed wins over Club Brugge, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea this season as they chase a last-16 berth.

Maresca made five changes from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth in the Premier League, with Cole Palmer rested after his return last weekend from a two-month injury absence.

There was no place for Chelsea’s emerging teenage star Estevao, who has three Champions League goals this season and starred against Barcelona.

Maresca’s reshuffled line-up took the lead in the 25th minute.

When Pedro deftly slotted in Reece James’ cross from four yards, the goal was initially disallowed for offside before a VAR check ruled in favour of the Chelsea forward.

It was only his third goal for Chelsea in his last 16 games in all competitions.

James should have doubled Chelsea’s lead when he smashed just wide from the edge of the area early in the second half. It was a crucial miss and Scamacca made James pay as Atalanta drew level in the 55th minute.

De Ketelaere then snatched the winner in the 83rd minute.

The Blues’ last two matches are in January at home against Pafos and away to Napoli.

“Probably we need two wins. Sixteen points might get you top eight, I’m not sure. The next one, for sure, if we want to finish top eight, we need to win both,” added Maresca.

In another match, Tottenham bolstered their bid to qualify for the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in front of their former star Son Heung-min.

As South Korea forward Son watched from the stands, Thomas Frank’s side eased to a valuable victory in north London thanks to David Zima’s first-half own goal and penalties from Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons after the interval. AFP