Chelsea advance in UEFA Conference League despite Legia Warsaw shock loss

Manager Enzo Maresca urged focus on the bigger picture as the Blues balance European and Premier League ambitions.

Maresca, reflecting on the defeat, said, "We are not happy with the result, no doubt. But we're in the semi-finals, and the good thing is we rotated players, avoided injuries, and can focus on the Premier League now."

He acknowledged the team's cautious approach, shaped by a 3-0 first-leg lead, but admitted the loss stung. "It's a setback, but we have six crucial league games ahead. Sunday's match is like a final for us."

The Blues, sitting one point off fifth in the Premier League, fielded a strong side, including Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Reece James, despite Maresca's plan to rest key players.

Chelsea started brightly, with Palmer and Christopher Nkunku testing Legia's goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic early. However, Legia stunned the hosts within 10 minutes when Filip Jorgensen conceded a penalty, which Tomas Pekhart converted despite the Dane's touch.

Legia grew bolder, with Ryoya Morishita nearly doubling their lead. Chelsea responded, and Marc Cucurella levelled the score just past the half-hour mark, tapping in after a well-worked move.

The Spaniard thought he had scored again soon after, but his effort was disallowed for offside. Maresca later praised Cucurella's contribution, noting, "Cucu is scoring more than our forwards right now, which shows his value, but we need our attackers to step up."

The second half saw Legia regain the lead when Steve Kapuadi headed home from a corner. Chelsea pushed back, with Jadon Sancho and substitutes Noni Madueke and Tyrique George going close, but Legia's defence held firm.

Maresca expressed concern over his forwards' lack of goals, particularly Palmer and Jackson, who both played to build fitness. "Nico's been out for over two months, and Cole had a minor issue before the break. We planned 45 minutes for them to regain rhythm, but we need them scoring soon," he said.

The defeat follows a patchy run, including a 2-2 draw against Ipswich, which has tempered optimism among Chelsea fans. Maresca urged calm, saying, "Football changes quickly. Other clubs like Aston Villa or Newcastle may feel confident now, but we control our destiny. Managing emotions is key."

Chelsea's European journey continues, with a chance to become the first club to win all three active UEFA competitions. However, with their forwards misfiring and domestic form wavering, Maresca's men face a critical period to keep their season on track.

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