Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca emphasized the importance of securing narrow victories, lamenting his team’s FA Cup elimination at the hands of Brighton as a significant disappointment.

The Blues took an early lead in their fourth-round clash at the Amex Stadium, courtesy of an own goal by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen in the fifth minute. However, Chelsea failed to build on their fortunate start, with goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma securing a 2-1 comeback win for the Seagulls.

Since Maresca’s appointment last summer, Chelsea have only managed one 1-0 victory, which came against Bournemouth in September.

“I’ve told the players multiple times, including tonight—we need to learn how to win 1-0,” Maresca stated. “The biggest clubs know how to do that.”

Reflecting on their FA Cup departure, Maresca added, “It’s a real shame for us. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that we can now fully focus on the Premier League and the Europa Conference League.

“In particular, we hope to maintain our strong run in the Premier League and finish the season well.”

Chelsea’s bright start turned sour when Verbruggen mishandled Cole Palmer’s weak shot, allowing Rutter to head in an equalizer shortly after. Mitoma then struck decisively in the 57th minute to seal Brighton’s victory in this all-Premier League clash.

Without injured forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, Chelsea—who have won the FA Cup eight times—struggled to create meaningful chances to force extra time.

When asked about the absence of Jackson, who sustained an injury in Monday’s 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham, Maresca noted, “Sometimes you only realize a player’s value when they’re not available.

“We’ve said before how crucial Nico is, both on and off the ball. But even without him, the game was fairly balanced.

“We started well. In the first half, they had one real shot on goal—and it went in. We controlled play and created some chances. The second half followed a similar pattern.

“After conceding the second goal, we had a few opportunities to equalize but couldn’t capitalize.”

Brighton, reeling from a 7-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, bounced back impressively with this well-earned win.

Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised his team’s response: “I learned a phrase recently—just what the doctor ordered.

“It was a great reaction. After a tough week, we showed resilience. Coming back from an early setback and playing with such intensity and courage in possession made this win well deserved.”

Looking ahead to their Premier League fixture against Chelsea on Friday, Hurzeler also backed Netherlands international Verbruggen to move past his costly mistake.

“I won’t dwell on the error—mistakes happen,” the German coach said. “For goalkeepers, errors often lead directly to goals.

“But Bart is a fantastic professional. He has put in some outstanding performances for us, and he has the mental strength to recover quickly.”

Manchester United’s progression to the FA Cup fifth round was anything but convincing, as they narrowly edged past a struggling Leicester City side in a performance that left much to be desired.

Despite securing a 2-1 victory, Ruben Amorim’s team looked far from dominant. Leicester, currently fighting for survival in the Premier League, took the lead on Friday night, putting United on the back foot. It took Joshua Zirkzee’s second-half equalizer and a stoppage-time header from Harry Maguire to secure the win—though Maguire’s goal would have been ruled offside had VAR been in play.

While the result ensures United’s place in the next round, it also highlights deeper issues within the squad. Amorim’s vision for the team is yet to take full shape, and if they are to salvage anything from this season, key changes need to be made—starting with dropping underperforming senior players.

One of the most pressing concerns is Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish forward arrived from Atalanta for a hefty £72 million fee but has struggled to justify his price tag. With only ten goals to his name from his time in Italy, he has yet to adapt to the intensity of English football. His performance against Leicester was another example of his struggles, as he failed to register a single shot during a disjointed first half.

If United want to build momentum and challenge for silverware, Amorim must make bold decisions. Dropping players who are failing to meet expectations might be the first step toward turning things around at Old Trafford.

Manchester City supporters may witness the club’s latest signings in action at Brisbane Road on Saturday, as Pep Guardiola looks to integrate Nico Gonzalez into the squad to strengthen the defensive midfield.

Guardiola’s Plans for Nico Gonzalez

Pep Guardiola is counting on new arrival Nico Gonzalez to fill the void left by Rodri in the Manchester City midfield. The 23-year-old, signed from Porto for £50 million on transfer deadline day, was the only midfield addition. While City did not want to acquire a mere backup for Rodri, Guardiola is preparing for the possibility that the Spaniard may not return this season.

Guardiola highlighted Gonzalez’s versatility, explaining that he can play in multiple positions but will primarily be deployed in the No.6 role. While the club aims to ease the pressure on Gonzalez, he will be tasked with stabilizing a midfield that has struggled to maintain control in recent matches.

“At the moment, yes,” Guardiola stated. “I didn’t bring him in to play further up the field, as we already have several options in attack. While he can operate in various roles, his primary duty will be to shield the defense.

“I believe he is ready, but we will assess him over the coming days in training. His initial impact has been positive, but I won’t put excessive pressure on him to resolve all our issues immediately. He is here to help us become more stable.”

Possible Debut in FA Cup Clash

Gonzalez could make his first start on Saturday against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup fourth round. The match serves as City’s final fixture before their crucial showdown with Real Madrid, and Guardiola is hopeful of having more players available by then.

In addition to Gonzalez, three other new signings are expected to be involved, alongside returning players Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, and Ederson, all of whom are nearing full fitness. Guardiola hinted that fresh faces could be featured at the Gaughan Group Stadium, though one of Abdukodir Khusanov or Vitor Reis may have to settle for a bench role as the coach looks to avoid a major upset.

“We will see. I have an idea for the lineup,” Guardiola said. “I have one or two uncertainties, but that is normal. Playing two new players simultaneously might be risky against a team performing well lately.

“It would be great to have our injured players back, but if they’re not fully fit and we push them too soon, we risk further setbacks. We are consulting with the medical team to determine the safest approach. Some recoveries are straightforward, while others are more complex.”