Enzo Maresca claimed his players conceded a goal in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich because they listened to crowd complaints instead of sticking to his instructions.
Supporter dissatisfaction with Maresca’s insistence on playing out from the back from goal-kicks became increasingly audible at Stamford Bridge after Julio Enciso gave Ipswich a 19th-minute lead against the run of play.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was then seen to consult with team-mates before launching a goal-kick longer than usual. That backfired however as Ipswich gained possession and began a move from which Ben Johnson doubled the lead in the 31st minute.
After the match, Maresca said that “the environment” was affecting his players.
“We lost a little bit of confidence because we conceded, probably because of the environment and this is the moment that you have to continue doing the right things and don’t change plans,” Maresca said.
“The second goal we decide to play long because of the environment and we concede. So you have to be strong, you have to continue with the things that you are doing. I have said many times that if you go long, it doesn’t mean that you are going to control something.”
Maresca, who endured supporter unrest at Leicester last season because of the patient passing game he insisted upon, said the fans had a right to their opinion.
“I said many times, we are stronger with our fans,” he said. “We are a better team and it’s up to them to decide the way. For sure today probably, with the 0-1, 0-2, it’s normal to be in the way they were. They have been there all season, all my way. For sure today, in the moment that we are in, a difficult moment, you can expect them that they are not happy.”
Jadon Sancho’s equaliser in the second half meant Chelsea avoided the embarrassment of losing at home to Ipswich as well as away but which European competition they will be playing in next season remains anyone’s guess.
The point moved Chelsea into fifth – now confirmed as a Champions League qualification slot – but they later dropped to sixth after Newcastle thrashed Manchester United later in the day.
Chelsea had dominated the opening exchanges but failed to find the net. Nicolas Jackson hit a post from close range and Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer was required to make a number of saves, although other decent chances were fired over.
Ipswich caught the hosts out on the counter attack in the 19th minute with their first attack of substance. George Hirst began a run from the centre circle, played Johnson into a crossing position on the right and Enciso nipped in between the centre-backs to poke beyond Sánchez for his first goal since joining on loan from Brighton.
Chelsea fans had already turned on their team when Johnson doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark with a back-post header perfectly placed across Sánchez.
The on-field call was that Enciso, the supplier of the cross, had been offside but the semi-automated technology introduced in the Premier League this weekend, proved it had been marginally otherwise.
Chelsea were booed off at the break but required just 18 second-half seconds to pull a goal back, with Tuanzebe diverting Noni Madueke’s low ball into his own goal.
Hirst twice went close at the other end as Ipswich regained some composure and Chelsea reverted to creating chances without taking them.
Substitute Sancho showed them how to do it with his first goal since December 8. The on-loan Manchester United man dropped off to receive the ball just inside on the left from a short corner. He took aim and found the far top corner.
Chelsea pressed for a winner but Palmer pulled off two fine saves in stoppage time, first to deny Cole Palmer and then Enzo Fernández.
