Enzo Maresca ready to turn attention to Premier League and Conference League

Enzo Maresca sidestepped outlining specific targets for the remainder of the season after suggesting Chelsea’s FA Cup exit may prove beneficial.

The Blues’ hopes of securing domestic silverware in Maresca’s maiden campaign in west London were effectively ended by Saturday evening’s 2-1 fourth-round loss at Premier League rivals Brighton.

Although the Italian termed elimination a “big shame”, he said it would allow his side to concentrate on their final 14 league fixtures and pursuing European glory in the Conference League.

Chelsea sit fourth in the top flight – 13 points behind leaders Liverpool – as they chase Champions League qualification, while they are scheduled to play in the last 16 of continental club football’s third-tier competition early next month.

Asked what would now constitute a positive season, head coach Maresca replied: “For me, a good season is seeing the team improving game after game, going through bad moments and difficulties because it’s the only thing that can bring this club to compete for something important (in the future).

“This is exactly what I think.

“Now we can be focused on the Premier League and Conference League and hopefully we can finish in the right way.”

Bart Verbruggen’s own goal gifted Chelsea a fifth-minute lead on the south coast but Georginio Rutter quickly headed the Seagulls level before Kaoru Mitoma claimed a second-half winner.

In the absence of sidelined strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, the eight-time FA Cup winners rarely threatened to force extra-time.

Maresca defended the decision to allow forward Joao Felix to join AC Milan on loan for the rest of the season, having seen his attacking options depleted by injuries sustained in Monday’s 2-1 victory over West Ham.