Enzo Maresca continued to insist Chelsea can’t win the Premier League title after they moved to inside two factors of the summit with a 2-1 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

The pinnacle coach cited the guests’ objective scored within the ninetieth minute which arrange a tense end as proof his group can’t compete for the crown however after a dominant show to earn a fifth league win in a row it was more and more tough to not see them as the principle challengers to leaders Liverpool.

Marc Cucurella headed his second objective for the membership simply earlier than half-time then Nicolas Jackson seemed to have completed off Brentford when he lashed contained in the close to submit within the eightieth minute, earlier than Bryan Mbeumo took benefit of a defensive slip to jangle dwelling followers’ nerves.

“Irrespective of what number of video games we’re going to win, I feel we’re not able to compete for the title,” mentioned Maresca. “One of many causes is I feel the group that is aware of methods to compete to win titles won’t concede a objective like we concede.

“On 90 minutes, a throw-in for us and we concede a objective. A group that is aware of methods to win titles, that objective they’re to not going to concede. It’s why I proceed to say that we aren’t prepared for titles.

“Even if you happen to don’t consider me. I’d love the stress to compete for the title. However we can’t concede the objective we concede and open the sport and provides them the possibility to take a degree right here.”

Cucurella, who performed a lot of the sport in midfield and continued his exceptional rise to grow to be considered one of Chelsea’s greatest gamers this season, was despatched off after the ultimate whistle, proven a second yellow card for confronting Brentford’s Kevin Schade, and can serve a one-game ban.

“The referee mentioned the second yellow card was for dangerous angle,” mentioned Maresca.  “I used to be with the teaching workers celebrating so I didn’t see something.

“We might do many issues higher. The best way to handle some moments, most likely this is likely one of the moments we are able to enhance. The spirit of the group, generally you possibly can obtain some yellow playing cards, most likely the second shouldn’t be the right factor to do. It’s issues that we have to enhance.

“Cucu will likely be suspended and there’ll be one other one in his place. Pedro (Neto) was suspended tonight and Noni (Madueke’s) efficiency was prime. When they’re suspended, one other one will play.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, whose group misplaced for the seventh time in eight away video games, mirrored on a contest he felt his facet had been unfortunate to lose.

“We had been unfortunate to not get no less than a draw,” he mentioned. “Our second half was improbable, we went kind of toe to toe with quantity two within the Premier League, one of many favourites to win the title. Take a look at their gamers, the cash they’ve spent.

“We had been vastly spectacular and we had been very unfortunate to not get a draw. It meant so much to them so we will need to have precipitated them loads of bother.”