Enzo Maresca continues to play down Chelsea’s title chances despite latest win

Enzo Maresca continued to insist Chelsea cannot win the Premier League title after they moved to within two points of the summit with a 2-1 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

The head coach cited the visitors’ goal scored in the 90th minute which set up a tense finish as evidence his team cannot compete for the crown but after a dominant display to earn a fifth league win in a row it was increasingly difficult not to see them as the main challengers to leaders Liverpool.

Marc Cucurella headed his second goal for the club just before half-time then Nicolas Jackson looked to have finished off Brentford when he lashed inside the near post in the 80th minute, before Bryan Mbeumo took advantage of a defensive slip to jangle home fans’ nerves.

“No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we’re not ready to compete for the title,” said Maresca. “One of the reasons is I think the team that knows how to compete to win titles will not concede a goal like we concede.

“On 90 minutes, a throw-in for us and we concede a goal. A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they’re not to going to concede. It’s why I continue to say that we are not ready for titles.

“Even if you don’t believe me. I would love the pressure to compete for the title. But we cannot concede the goal we concede and open the game and give them the chance to take a point here.”

Cucurella, who played much of the game in midfield and continued his remarkable rise to become one of Chelsea’s best players this season, was sent off after the final whistle, shown a second yellow card for confronting Brentford’s Kevin Schade, and will serve a one-game ban.

“The referee said the second yellow card was for bad attitude,” said Maresca.  “I was with the