Maresca concerned as Atalanta fight back to beat Chelsea

Enzo Maresca admitted he was “worried” by Chelsea’s slump after Atalanta’s 2-1 victory in the Champions League extended the Blues’ winless run to four matches on Tuesday.

Joao Pedro’s first-ever Champions League goal put Chelsea ahead in the first half in Bergamo.

But the Blues lost their momentum after the interval and former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca grabbed the equaliser before Charles De Ketelaere, who provided the assist for Atalanta’s leveller, capped his influential display with the late winner.

Chelsea found it impossible to subdue Belgium forward De Ketelaere, who has six goals and seven assists in his last 12 Champions League appearances.

Since their memorable 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on November 25, Chelsea have gone four matches without a victory in all competitions.

Maresca’s 11th-placed side have 10 points from six league phase games and their bid for a top-eight finish—which guarantees automatic qualification for the last 16 — is now on a knife-edge.

Chelsea’s last two matches are in January at home against Pafos and away to Napoli.

“I am always worried. Two points in four games is not what we expect and we have to do better,” Maresca said.

“First half we were winning, we were good and controlling the game. After we conceded the first goal, we lost control a little bit of the game.

“We had different chances to make it 2-0 and when we conceded 1-1 the dynamic changed a little bit.

“We are playing every two days. For a moment we looked like we struggled a bit. Now it’s about trying to win the next game.”

Third-placed Atalanta have enjoyed wins over Club Brugge, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea this season as they chase a last-16 berth.