There is no happy year for João Félix – Chelsea Lost 2-0 Against Ipswich Town
In his first Premier League start since the beginning of the month, in the last game of 2024 with the Blues , what João Félix took away from his visit to Portman Road was a disappointment. The umpteenth of the season for him and the third in a row for Enzo Maresca’s charges . A draw, against Everton (0-0), and consecutive defeats, against Fulham (1-2) and newly promoted Ipswich Town (2-0), once again take the London team out of the race for the league title. And the Italian coach had already warned in countless ways that they were not yet ready. Another performance more typical of 2023 than of an exciting 2025 leaves Chelsea, who were once four points behind Liverpool, in fourth place and 10 points less than the Premier League leaders.
The disallowed goal by João Félix , the post that Cole Palmer hit and an error by Axel Disasi were largely to blame for the Blues’ defeat, but above all Liam Delap. The 21-year-old English striker was dropped in the middle of the desert and a water supply system ended up being built in the Tractor Boys ‘ home ground that not even the Romans could match. His goal, his seventh of the season, and his assist to topple a Chelsea side . A victory, Ipswich Town’s first at home in the Premier League in more than 20 years, in which a former Chelsea player also played a role. Omari Hutchinson will ring in the New Year by doing somersaults .
Neither Joao Felix nor Palmer
The first of the changes introduced by Enzo Maresca into the starting eleven did not work out entirely well for the Italian coach, as Filip Jørgensen, who benched Robert Sánchez in the best moment of the season for the Spanish goalkeeper, gave away the penalty that Liam Delap himself converted after 10 minutes of the match . The second of these changes, which was the return to the starting line-up in the Premier League of João Félix almost a month later, did almost work out well for him. A great cross from Cole Palmer found the Portuguese at the far post, who finished off the ball to make it 1-1… but in an offside position. João Félix went from celebrating to looking resigned.
Two shots hit the post from Chelsea’s English star, the first from a free-kick and the second after a stunning save from the home keeper, stopped the Blues in their tracks. Although the London side created a lot of danger for Christian Walton’s goal in the closing stages of the first half, Ipswich Town did not stay behind. Filip Jørgensen also had time to make amends with two superb saves , both on top of Liam Delap, to prevent Chelsea from going into the break with an even bigger deficit.
On the back of Delap
But the disallowed goal would not be the last face of resignation for João Félix in the match. With barely time to lament the 2-0 of the Tractor Boys , the work of the ex-Blue Omari Hutchinson, Enzo Maresca took the Portuguese off the field. Head down and annoyed, the ’14’ headed for the bench ‘because of’ Axel Disasi, and it was a bad back pass from the French defender, which Liam Delap took advantage of, that gave rise to the second goal for the home team . The English forward from Ipswich Town, self-sufficient in venturing the team with his runs and runs, gave an exhibition during the second 45 minutes of creating opportunities.