“I’m sure that everyone can see that he’s the main reason we lost against Brighton. Our manager has turned a blind eye to his mistakes” – This is according to Tosin Adarabioyo as he reveals the reason behind Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, but fans are unlikely to accept his explanation.

Tosin Adarabioyo’s explanation for Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round loss to Brighton is unlikely to sit well with fans.

Enzo Maresca’s squad took an early lead after Bart Verbruggen fumbled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net just five minutes in. However, Brighton responded swiftly, equalizing just seven minutes later before securing the win.

Reflecting on Chelsea’s struggles, Adarabioyo shared his thoughts on the disappointing performance and looked ahead to the upcoming rematch on Friday.

Adarabioyo’s Take on Chelsea’s Defeat to Brighton

Brighton’s first goal stemmed from a straightforward cross by Joel Veltman, which neither Adarabioyo nor Trevoh Chalobah managed to clear. While Adarabioyo was at least marking Danny Welbeck, Chalobah’s missed challenge allowed Georginio Rutter to head the ball past Robert Sanchez.

Discussing the defensive lapse, Adarabioyo told Chelsea’s official website:

“I see it as a lapse of concentration sometimes. We didn’t break them down and create good enough chances to secure the game, and we got punished at the other end.”

Mistakes are an inevitable part of football, but Chelsea’s defenders have made far too many recently. Excluding their 5-0 victory over League Two’s Morecambe, the Blues haven’t kept a clean sheet since their goalless draw with Everton on December 22.

This inconsistency is a major concern for a team with Champions League ambitions, and fans—particularly those who witnessed the Brighton defeat—will not be satisfied with “lapses in concentration” as an excuse.

Looking ahead, Adarabioyo added:

“Our main focus is now coming back here on Friday. We will analyze this game throughout tomorrow and the week, and we will come back stronger on Friday.”

Chelsea’s Defensive Issues Highlight the Need for Reinforcements

With each passing game, it becomes increasingly evident that Wesley Fofana is Chelsea’s most reliable centre-back. His absence due to injury has coincided with the team’s defensive struggles.

Maresca’s alternatives include Levi Colwill, who made costly errors against West Ham, and Chalobah, whose mistake played a key role in Saturday’s