What Chelsea fans wanted Enzo Maresca to do after going 2-0 down against Newcastle

Disappointment for Chelsea Fans as First Half Struggles Against Newcastle

A Shaky Start at St. James’ Park

Chelsea fans watched in frustration as their team delivered a lackluster first half against Newcastle United. Under Enzo Maresca’s management, Chelsea found themselves trailing 2-0 by halftime, leading the traveling fans to make their opinions clear.

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Maresca’s Strategy: Resting Key Players

Continuing his approach from previous cup matches, Maresca chose to rest many of his primary players, a decision that kept stars like Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke on the bench. Fans eagerly hoped Palmer would start, especially at such a high-stakes match at St. James’ Park, but Maresca stuck with his strategy.

Chelsea Fans Call for Palmer

Despite limited substitutions, Madueke was the first and only player Maresca brought on, which made sense given his impact this season. The winger has proven his value, tallying four goals across eight Premier League games. Still, fans called out for Palmer, a name echoing through the stands, as journalist Bobby Vincent reported. Palmer’s recent winning goal against Newcastle in their last encounter at Stamford Bridge only added to fans’ desire to see him on the pitch.

Maresca’s Approach: Respecting Newcastle or Missing an Opportunity?

Many felt Maresca underestimated the strength of Newcastle, perhaps needing one of his star attackers to secure a win. Newcastle proved they weren’t an opponent to be taken lightly, outmatching Chelsea’s cautious tactics. While Chelsea has chosen to keep Palmer out of the league phase in the Conference League to avoid overuse, this choice felt like a missed opportunity for some fans, who wished to see Madueke start given Jadon Sancho’s absence due to illness.

Experimentation Gone Wrong with Dewsbury-Hall

Instead of Madueke or Palmer, Maresca opted for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the right in an experimental move that didn’t pay off, leading to his substitution for Madueke in the early second half.