MUNICH, Germany — Chelsea’s long-awaited return to the Champions League ended in disappointment with a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, but manager Enzo Maresca made headlines for his impassioned defense of Malo Gusto.
The 22-year-old right-back came under fire on social media after his misplaced pass led directly to Harry Kane’s decisive second-half strike. Yet Maresca praised Gusto as the “saviour of the match,” insisting his energy and defensive work prevented a heavier defeat. “Without Malo tonight, it could have been five or six,” Maresca said. “Yes, he made one mistake, but his recoveries and intensity saved us.”
Bayern’s efficiency was on full display: an early own goal from Trevoh Chalobah, Kane’s opportunistic finish from Gusto’s error, and Serge Gnabry’s late goal sealed the win. Cole Palmer’s spectacular equalizer in the 38th minute briefly gave Chelsea hope, but Vincent Kompany’s side dominated the second half, registering 18 shots to the Blues’ seven and suffocating their buildup with relentless pressing.
Gusto’s performance was a paradox — the young Frenchman covered nearly 12km, won the majority of his duels, and recorded more tackles and interceptions than any player on the pitch. Still, his 58th-minute mistake swung the match Bayern’s way. “I take responsibility,” Gusto admitted afterwards. “But the gaffer is right — we fought until the end.”
Despite trending criticism online (#GustoOut amassed thousands of posts), Maresca doubled down on his support. “He’s 22, learning on the biggest stage,” the coach said. “One error doesn’t define him. His fight does.”
The result underscored Chelsea’s growing pains. While Palmer again impressed, Chalobah endured bad luck, and Maresca lamented the team’s second-half drop-off. Injuries and squad rotations left the Blues vulnerable against Bayern’s depth, exposing the gap between the sides.
Fan sentiment was divided, but Maresca’s stance was clear: Gusto is part of Chelsea’s long-term future. “The fans may drag him now, but they’ll sing for him soon,” Maresca predicted.
As Chelsea prepare for Sunday’s clash with Tottenham, the night in Munich may be remembered less for the scoreline and more for Maresca’s show of loyalty — a signal of belief in his young defender at a time when criticism was fiercest.
