Chelsea battled back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park on Saturday, helping Enzo Maresca avoid awkward questions after a tricky week for the club.
Nick Woltemade put Newcastle in control with two first-half goals, threatening to extend Chelsea’s poor run of form. But after the break, Reece James struck a superb free-kick, and Joao Pedro followed up with a slick solo finish to earn a point for the Blues.
The result keeps Chelsea fourth in the Premier League, though their form—just one win in the last five matches—remains a concern. For Maresca, the comeback was a relief after speculation about his future intensified this week.
On Friday, Maresca dismissed reports linking him to Manchester City as “100 percent speculation,” despite rumors that City are considering him as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola. The reports followed comments from Maresca suggesting he had not received enough support from Chelsea’s hierarchy, calling the 48 hours after last weekend’s win over Everton the worst of his time at the club.
Chelsea’s rotation policy has been criticized for leaving the team unbalanced at times. After making 11 changes for the League Cup win over Cardiff on Tuesday, Maresca returned to his senior squad, only for them to start poorly against Newcastle.
Woltemade, eager to make amends for his own goal in last weekend’s defeat to Sunderland, opened the scoring in the fourth minute. A Jacob Murphy cross found Anthony Gordon, whose shot was parried by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, leaving Woltemade to slot in from close range. Chelsea’s defense was again exposed in the 20th minute as Gordon’s precise cross allowed Woltemade to score his second, confirmed onside after a VAR review.
Chelsea struggled until halftime, though Woltemade missed a clear chance just before the break. Maresca’s halftime team talk worked, with James reducing the deficit in the 49th minute with a brilliant free-kick. A controversial non-awarded penalty for a challenge on Gordon went Newcastle’s way.
With injuries hitting Newcastle’s defense—including Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Sven Botman, and Tino Livramento—Chelsea began to pressure their opponents. Pedro Neto’s shot forced a fine save from Ramsdale, and the pressure paid off in the 66th minute when Joao Pedro cleverly headed Sanchez’s long ball past Malick Thiaw and finished clinically inside the box, completing the comeback.
Maresca celebrated the equalizer with an energetic jig on the touchline, relieved to see his team respond under pressure.
