Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was disappointed by how his side conceded two second-half goals to throw away their lead and slump to a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Atalanta on Tuesday. Joao Pedro broke the deadlock for Chelsea after 25 minutes, but Serie A side Atalanta returned with far more intent after the break and overturned the deficit through goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere. Maresca said his side should have taken the chances they had to add to their first-half lead. “After we conceded the 1-1 (goal), we lost a little bit of control of the game, and then we conceded the second one,” he told reporters. “I think both goals, we can avoid both of them. They’re quite easy goals.” The win put Atalanta near the top of the Champions League table, putting them in the mix for direct qualification for the round of 16 with 13 points, while Chelsea have 10. If the Premier League club do not win their remaining games against Cypriot side Pafos and Italy’s Napoli, they will likely finish outside the top eight and be forced to play a two-legged playoff match.
Chelsea’s Maresca rues ‘easy goals’ conceded in loss to Atalanta
Published on: December 11, 2025 1:12 AM