ENZO MARESCA blasted his defenders for failing to deal with an “easy” situation as they were stunned by Sunderland.
The Blues boss was also frustrated with his players for a lack of fight, failing to win duels against their newly promoted visitors.
Black Cats winger Chemsdine Talbi scored a smash and grab 93rd minute winner at Stamford Bridge.
The Morocco international was teed up by fellow summer signing Brian Brobbey, who held up the ball and provided the assist despite having two Chelsea defenders around him.
Maresca fumed: “It’s just one long ball in behind. We are two vs one with the two central defenders and we didn’t defend properly.
“The striker is facing his goal, so it’s with the back. It’s an easy situation to defend.
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“But probably we tried to manage a little bit because it was 92, 93 minutes. In that case, for sure, we have to do better.”
Maresca, whose side were on a four game winning run before this game, was even frustrated with his players when they were leading.
He added: “We were not good enough. Lack of creativity. We didn’t create a lot, apart from the goal probably. And we struggled.
“We need our players to perform 100 per cent. Even at 1-0, we lost some duels, we lost some second balls. And against this team, you need to win that.”
The Italian also revealed that Joao Pedro, who put in another quiet display, is suffering from a long-term groin injury and has not been able to train regularly.
The Italian said: “Joao has not been training every day because he is managing a little bit, himself, from an injury. Mo is the same, Enzo is exactly the same.
“We have four or five players that, unfortunately, because of some problems, they cannot work every day and they try to make the effort to play the game.
“So, Joao, in some games, has been better. Today he struggled a little bit, but today, I think, overall, all the players struggled today. So, it’s not just about Joao.”
Chelsea had got off to a flyer after new signing Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in the fourth minute at Stamford Bridge.
But Sunderland equalised through Wilson Isidor midway through the first half after Chelsea failed to clear their lines.
Chelsea struggled to break down a stubborn Black Cats side in the second period before Sunderland struck at the death to seal a memorable away win.
Brian Bobbey had latched onto a long ball launched up the field, held it up before laying off for Talbi to stroke into the far corner – and send the away end ballistic.
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