During Sunday’s 1-0 loss at the Emirates, Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber seemed to “embarrass” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca with a direct two-word message, leaving many Chelsea supporters furious.
Mikel Merino’s header from a Martin Odegaard corner in the 20th minute won the game, marking yet another disappointing performance for the Blues, who have now dropped four straight away Premier League games.
Additionally, Maresca’s team’s winless streak versus Arsenal was extended to seven games.
Although most Blues fans would be more concerned with Chelsea’s on-field problems, some fans on social media were more incensed by a brief touchline altercation between Maresca and Timber.
After appearing to tell Maresca to ‘try harder’, Timber offered the Italian manager a handshake
The incident happened during a brief pause in play, deep into added time. Timber often seemed to implore Maresca to “try harder” while leaning in his direction.
Timber cheekily held out his hand when the Italian answered with his mouth shut. Before play began again, Maresca gave it a shake.
Some Chelsea supporters were furious to witness their boss being made fun of in real time, and the video swiftly went viral.
On X (previously Twitter), one supporter wrote: “Our manager is taking that, which is absolutely embarrassing.”
Maresca accepted Timber’s offer of a handshake and many Chelsea fans were unimpressed
‘Imagine this with any other Chelsea manager ever, oh wait, it wouldn’t happen,’ another upset.
Others drew attention to how the discussion represented Chelsea’s present difficulties.
One supporter bemoaned, “This is not the Chelsea we used to know,” while another asserted that a “elite manager would have been fuming at this point.”
On Sunday, Timber was among the finest players on the field.
With the exception of William Saliba (70), he touched the ball 64 times, more than any other teammate. More aerial duels were won by the Dutch defense (four) than by any other player on either team.
Chelsea managed just two shots on goal without their star player, Cole Palmer.
Prior to Sunday, Palmer had started all 28 of Chelsea’s Premier League games, but he was sidelined by a tight hamstring, which he sustained soon after recovering from a medical episode.
‘He’s not in the toilet, for sure!’ Maresca told Sky Sports prior to kickoff.
As is well known, he experienced some health issues last week.
And regrettably, he had a minor issue yesterday. We anticipate that he will rejoin us following the international break.
He sustained an injury during yesterday’s training. The session was really light. We therefore believe it to be unimportant.
“But we wait, and it seems like he’ll return following the next international break.”