Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has said the players must accept the blame after the Blues fell in a humiliating defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Chelsea faced Brighton in a Premier League away game on Saturday and suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Seagulls. Brighton outmaneuvered Chelsea and secured a deserved 4-1 win over the Blues.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Gallagher admitted they weren’t good enough individually or as a team against a Brighton side who wanted him more.
The Chelsea midfielder admitted it was a difficult result to accept, but insisted the players must take the blame. “It is a difficult question to accept. At the end of the day, we weren’t good enough individually or as a team. It seemed like they wanted it a little more than we did,” the 22-year-old said.
Conor Gallagher reacts to Chelsea’s loss to Brighton
“We have to look at ourselves. We are to blame and we are devastated, very disappointed with ourselves as a team because we know that we are much more professional than that.
Meanwhile, the loss to Brighton was Chelsea’s first since Graham Potter took charge of the club. Chelsea appointed Potter as their manager after sacking Thomas Tuchel following their loss to Dinamo Zagreb in their 22/23 Champions League opener.
Chelsea were unbeaten in Potter’s first nine games in charge of the club. However, they fell in tenth as Brighton deservedly won all three points.
Coincidentally, Chelsea’s first defeat since Potter became their manager came at the hands of their former team. Potter joined Chelsea earlier this season after leaving Brighton.
Against Brighton, Chelsea conceded three goals in a nightmarish first half. Brighton took the lead in the fifth minute before two Chelsea own goals helped the home team establish a three-goal cushion in the first half.
Chelsea pulled one back early in the second half, with Kai Havertz scoring from Gallagher’s cross into the box. However, Potter’s men could not find another. Brighton, however, found the fourth, at minute 90+2 to seal their victory.
The loss leaves Chelsea fifth in the Premier League points table with 21 points from 12 games. They are eight points behind Manchester City, who sit top of the table with 29 points from 12 games.
Chelsea are also three points behind fourth-place Newcastle United, but the Magpies have played one more game.
