• Honestly, it feels like Maresca is trying so hard to fit Reece James into the starting XI — but not as a right-back, clearly because of his fitness issues. And yeah, it makes sense not to overload him… but man, it’s hurting the team’s flow.

• We're really struggling with our build-up and pressing. There’s no rhythm, no smooth progression through midfield. Possession feels forced, and we can't link play or win the ball back quickly. Everything looks disjointed. Palmer is nowhere to be found.

• Like I said before, only Marc Cucurella seems to understand that inverted fullback role properly — when he's the one tucking in, the team actually looks functional going forward.

• Hopefully, Maresca sees this and switches things up for the second half. Reece is a top player, but this hybrid role experiment just isn’t clicking right now.

A fan supporting both Chelsea and Flamengo in the stands.

#INGAME

At least he will learn and drop the shitty experiment in a big match

#INGAME

We may soon turn into Auckland City if we come up against PSG and the rest

#INGAME

The Brazilians have been so good anyway.

But Maresca has also been tactically inept.

Pep Sickness creeped in today

#INGAME

If we get eliminated from the group stage, or get whipped in the next stage, it may be a good or bad thing.

We may panic and buy better players, or we may panic and over pay for sub par players.

#Chaos

Experimented in the 1st-half, Humiliated in the 2nd-half.

We move on.

#OneOfUs

Felipe Luis short management career has been so successful but so under the radar man.

- 24 games winning streak
- 3 titles since 2024 as Flamengo coach ( u20 Intercontinental cup, Copa Brasil and Campeonato Carioca
- And this world cup achievements

Today his team was the better team. Kudos man

#Superguy

Andrey Santos hates Flamengo with every fibre of his being. Flew his whole family over for his ‘debut', zero minutes and a right-back played his position.

Maresca today was on you.

• We expected the usual early second-half tweaks, but he stuck with a system that clearly wasn’t working — and the team paid the price for it. There was no real reaction, no urgency, and it felt like the players got too comfortable after taking an early lead.

Jackson’s lack of maturity didn’t help, sure, but we were already trailing behind.The subs and changes came, but it was a bit too late by then.

Also, I remember Maresca saying in his presser that rotation was key because of the match intensity… so was Reece James in midfield really part of that plan? Because if that’s the idea of “rotation,” it’s clearly not helping our structure or rhythm.

Frustrating night — not just for the players, but the decisions from the touchline too.

Only Positive, Pedro Neto. He has improved massively, it's either the UEFA Nations league giving him confidence or we're just seeing another better version of him. Kudos 👏

🚨 Jorginho: “We knew we could hurt them in some areas, but they are secrets”

(DAZN)

🚨 Maresca: “The red card changed the game, it was very hard to come back, congratulations to them”

(DAZN)

🚨 Maresca: “I tried something new today with tactics for next season. Flamengo deserved it, congrats to them, that’s it”

(DAZN)

Botafogo vs PSG was one of those games were a weaker team beats a stronger one with a very focused and disciplined performance, but this was different. Flamengo were just straight up better than Chelsea and that is on Maresca.

2 seasons

17 yellow cards

2 red cards

2 suspensions due to yellow cards

It's not like this is the first time he's done this so the apology just sounds hollow.

Add in the time he tried to fight the Everton players after the final whistle, the penalty scrap he had with Noni and Palmer or the time he was posted with an onlyfans model and you gotta ask the question how often Jackson needs to show us who he is before we start believing him.

I don't care for what he has to say on social media after the match, only what he does during the match.

Not only is he quick to lose his cool, he's also an average striker that hasn't improved since he joined. We still have this transfer window to bring in another striker and ship Jackson out.

He isn't a 17yo kid who lost his cool once or twice, he is a 24yo wanna be leading striker with a serious attitude issue for a club that is looking to compete for major silverware. Two things that simply don't go together, period.

Enzo Maresca was asked about the decision to play Reece James in midfield over other midfield options like Andrey Santos, Dario Essugo, and Romeo Lavia

His response:

🔗 💥 BlueCo Xtra

The Secret

People might not notice it at first glance, but if you watch closely, there’s a clear defensive tactic Chelsea use during set-pieces or crosses into the box. The moment a cross is about to be delivered, the entire defensive line aggressively steps up towards the edge of the box , it’s a calculated move to catch opposition players offside. It’s smart, and when it works, it kills the attacking threat instantly.

But here’s the catch - it doesn’t always work. If the delivery is top quality, the plan can backfire. Take Gusto, for example: once the ball is whipped in with pace, his first instinct is to step up towards the box - line rather than stay with his man. And in those split seconds, if the opposition beats the trap, Gusto’s recovery run is already compromised. It’s a high-risk, high-reward approach that requires perfect timing — one misstep, and we’re chasing shadows in the box.

🗣 Frank Leboeuf: "They [Chelsea] finished fourth because the league wasn’t good last season and if you want too much and you expect too much from Chelsea you’re a fool.

You really are a fool because this thing is settled on something very fragile. They don’t have as I have always demanded one or two experienced players where you can put the basics on."

~ESPN