Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca concedes his team won’t be in the title race due to inconsistency, following a 2-1 loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s inconsistent display against Sunderland has led manager Enzo Maresca to rule them out of the Premier League title race. Maresca’s side were beaten 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, despite winning four consecutive games prior to the match.

Maresca lamented his team’s lack of creativity and consistency, saying, “If you want to be there, you need consistency. Winning four in a row and then today’s [result], it shows that.” He added that Chelsea’s fluctuations in form are a concern, and they’re unlikely to maintain a high level of performance throughout the season.

The Blues’ youthful squad is prone to peaks and troughs, but Maresca emphasized that experience is crucial in big games. Two of Chelsea’s oldest players, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, were criticized for their defensive lapse that led to Sunderland’s winner.

Maresca was disappointed with his team’s overall performance, saying, “We were not good enough and in the Premier League the consequences can be bad.” He added that Chelsea must improve their consistency to avoid similar losses in the future.

The loss to Sunderland was particularly frustrating given Chelsea’s good form leading up to the match. They thumped Ajax 5-1 in the Champions League midweek, but failed to maintain that level of performance.

Maresca’s comments suggest Chelsea are unlikely to challenge for the title this season. Their inconsistency and lack of creativity are major concerns, and they’ll need to address these issues to improve their chances.

Chelsea’s next match is against Wolves in the League Cup, and Maresca will be looking to bounce back from this defeat. However, their title hopes are hanging by a thread, and they’ll need a significant turnaround to stay in contention.