Chelsea suffered a comprehensive 3-1 defeat to Leeds United, with manager Enzo Maresca acknowledging his team was outplayed in every aspect of the game. This loss served as a significant reality check following a strong recent run of results. Leeds took an early lead through Jaka Bijol and extended it with a long-range strike from Ao Tanaka before halftime.
Pedro Neto managed to pull a goal back for Chelsea early in the second half, but a defensive error gifted Dominic Calvert-Lewin the opportunity to seal the victory for Leeds with less than 20 minutes remaining. Maresca described the performance as "very poor" and stated that his team deserved the loss, emphasizing the need to reset quickly with another game in 48 hours. Neto also admitted that Leeds were simply better and that Chelsea had a bad day, highlighting a lack of intensity, attitude, and desire.
Maresca explained the early substitution of 18-year-old Estêvão, despite him being a key attacker, by citing concerns that the young player might struggle to manage his emotions, evidenced by a yellow card received before halftime, and that it was better to prevent a potential red card. Additionally, Maresca lamented the absence of Moisés Caicedo, who was suspended, acknowledging that the midfielder is a crucial player for the team and that his influence was sorely missed.