Enzo Maresca reflects the failure of Chelsea's Owners to understand supporters

Sunday's costly draw to a relegation bound opponent was final straw for irritated supporters

Enzo Maresca had an open goal on Sunday afternoon when he walked into the press conference following a draw with relegation bound Ipswich.

He could decry this as an unacceptable failure, a bad day at the office, one that did not meet the standard required on a must-win afternoon. Although Maresca’s words could not fully soothe the frustrations of a dismal result, he at the very least had the chance to not pour more fuel onto a growing fire.

Then, he started talking about the “environment”.

“We started well and created chances. They scored the first goal and it completely changed the dynamic of the game. For 20-25 minutes, we were not good enough and conceded two goals. Then in the second-half we were back in the game.

It's tough because even in the first 20 minutes, at this stage of the season, if you are not able to score the first one then the game completely changes. We conceded and it was not good enough for different things. In terms of I think we lost confidence because we conceded because of the environment. Our goalkeeper plays short and then he goes long for the second goal because of the environment.”

Maresca has some leeway with the use of the word environment. Was he talking about the sudden drop in temperature in west London or the fluorescent pink shirts of the visitors?

Equally, it is not outlandish to assume he was directly referring to the very audible frustration heard around the ground as the Blues looked to pass out intricately from the back, with Robert Sanchez already cheaply giving away possession on a number of occasions.