Why Did Chelsea Allow Late Equaliser Against Brentford?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Late equaliser: Chelsea conceded a late goal, resulting in a draw.
- Frustration: Reece James expressed disappointment over the missed victory.
- First half struggles: The team faced challenges before turning the game around.
- Focus on improvement: Emphasis on better performance for upcoming matches.
- Next challenge: Preparing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
New Delhi, Sep 14 (NationPress) Reece James voiced his disappointment regarding Chelsea’s inability to clinch all three points after a late equaliser resulted in a 2-2 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
After a fragmented first half where the Blues found themselves trailing, goals from Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo in the second half appeared to shift the momentum in Chelsea's favor just before stoppage time. However, the home team equalised late, leaving James dejected that Chelsea missed the chance for victory in west London.
While the captain recognised the significance of maintaining their unbeaten streak in the Premier League, he insisted that his team deserved better.
“It’s frustrating not to win. We aimed for victory and ended up a goal down, but we adjusted our approach and managed to come back into the match. They are a resilient team and they capitalised on our mistakes. We’re not satisfied with a draw, but we’ll continue to battle. We must accept this outcome and shift our focus forward,” stated James.
The full-back believes that a challenging first half hindered the Blues from taking full control of the match.
“There were multiple reasons why the first half was subpar. It’s always tough to play here, especially coming off an international break. That shouldn’t serve as an excuse – our standards are exceptionally high,” he remarked.
“In the first half, they exploited us on the counter-attack, which we anticipated but failed to manage. The second goal came from a set piece where they excel, and unfortunately, we couldn’t handle it today,” he added.
With a no-excuses mentality, James understands that the Blues need to improve ahead of their Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
“We came here to win, and we let points slip away today. While we are disappointed, the match is behind us now. It’s time to concentrate on the next challenge,” he concluded.