Ten Men, One Goal: Chelsea's Unlikely Triumph Over Benfica

Chelsea's Ten-Man Triumph: A Lesson in Staying Calm

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's manager, rejected claims of a disciplinary crisis inside the squad, noting that the Blues had picked up a third red card in four games as they edged Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Chelsea earned their first European win at Stamford Bridge this season thanks to an own goal from Richard Ries in the 18th minute, giving the English club a vital victory and sending their former boss Jose Mourinho back to London with a loss.

In the 61st minute Joao Pedro came on but did not complete the match, receiving a red card in stoppage time for a second booking after a dangerous challenge toward Benfica's Leandro Barrio. The sending off capped a chaotic night that reflected more than one bad night at the office.

The dismissal continued a recent run of discipline issues, with Robert Sanchez sent off against Manchester United, Trevoh Chalobah dismissed at Brighton, and Nicolas Jackson having been shown two red cards in late-season incidents versus Newcastle and Flamengo.

Maresca joked to ESPN, "At least we learned how to win with ten men—this is a first. There are only two or three minutes left, after all." He added seriously, "I always enjoy one-on-one battles. The red cards for Jackson and Chalobah were due to misdeeds in other games, but Sanchez's dismissal was to protect his goal. Tonight, the second yellow for Pedro did not even involve contact, but it looked dangerous. For me, there is no problem or worry."

He continued, "Sometimes it's better to concede a goal or give up a chance, because you then play 11 versus 11 with 40 minutes to go. For example, Sanchez's red card came two or three minutes after halftime against Brighton, so handling such situations intelligently matters."

Pedro will now miss Chelsea's next Champions League match, when they host Ajax on October 22.

Few would have predicted that Chelsea's World Cup triumph would become a heavy burden, as the club that spent nearly two billion pounds under new ownership now faces a stark reality. Maresca finds himself negotiating a horizon that could end his project early, turning what began as a dream into a long, hard road.

The 3-1 loss to Brighton laid bare defensive weaknesses. Levi Colwill's long-term injury left Maresca reliant on a pairing that fans didn't love: Chalobah, who the club had tried to sell, and Tosin Adarabioyo, signed on a free from Fulham.

With the latter sidelined, the manager turned to two young academy players in defense, as Chelsea slid back into a phase of experimentation rather than consistent contention.

This exposed the transfer-market shortcomings. Maresca had asked for a new central defender after Colwill's injury but backed off in front of the press, leaving questions about the influence he truly wields.

Meanwhile, Arsenal bolstered their squad with additional defenders to deepen the depth, underscoring the gulf between a title-chasing team and a club still hunting for answers.

Chelsea is not lacking in defenders; what they lack is experience and consistency, and a captain who can marshal the back line under pressure. The team looks vulnerable to injury and red cards, turning every setback into a crisis of belief.

Midfield Grit

Moises Caicedo remains the potential stabilizer in midfield, but his possible absence would further tilt an already uncertain balance. The Ecuadorian escaped a red last night, but any prolonged spell out would be damaging.

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had looked assured in the Club World Cup, but he produced a costly error and red card against United, stoking fears about his form in big matches. Up front, Cole Palmer's injury has robbed Chelsea of their top scorer, while Estevao has flashed talent but remains far from a consistent alternative.

On the left, options are unsettled. The result is a Chelsea side that too often relies on a moment of individual brilliance rather than a clear, functioning attacking system. The absence of a settled plan could magnify vulnerabilities as the calendar intensifies.

Punchline 1: Chelsea's defense is so creative, it redefines offside as a suggestion. Punchline 2: Ten men, one mission: still somehow finding a way to turn a match into a plot twist nobody asked for.