Enzo Maresca has just finished his post-match press conference after Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage by Brighton.

The Blues took an early lead at the Amex Stadium with Cole Palmer forcing a howler from Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen on five minutes. Georginio Rutter levelled for the hosts not too long after, though, with a fine header into the corner.

Kaoru Mitoma put Brighton ahead in the second-half and they managed to hold on to their advantage to progress into the fifth round. Maresca has reflected on the defeat in his post-match press conference. Below is every word the Italian had to say...

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Did tonight highlight the important of Nicolas Jackson with the lack of goal scoring threat?

"Yeah, sometimes I think you need to play games without players to realise how important they are. We said many times about Nico: he is important on and off the ball. Off the ball, his intensity is very good and on the ball, he is always a threat.

"Overall, even without Nico, the game was both. We started the game very good. In the first-half, probably the only shot on goal they had was the goal. We controlled, we created some chances and the second-half, more or less it happened the same - probably the only shot on goal was the second goal.

"We had a few chances to draw and we missed. Now, if there is something good after a defeat is now we can be focused on the Premier League and Conference [League]."

Is Jackson going to be back soon?

"As I said yesterday or two days ago, it won't be long but we will see if he will be available for the next game."

The trend of scoring first and losing or drawing a match... why has that become a thing?

"For me, for sure, we need to learn how to win a game 1-0, I've said many times. No doubt. But in the same way, the last game against West Ham, we were losing 1-0 and then we went 2-1. It's part of the season, part of football; sometimes you are down and you win and sometimes it happens like tonight.

"For sure, I've said to the players weeks ago and tonight, in terms of the team, we need to learn how to win sometimes 1-0. That is what big clubs, they do that."

No Reece James. What is the situation?

"It was planned. He is okay. He is training, it was just to protect him a little bit to avoid injury again."

The changes you made were like for like even though you were losing. Can you explain your thinking?

"Do you mean in terms of striker?"

No, the wide players, you brought on two wingers for two wingers...

"Because I think in that case, if you change, for instance, an attacking player, a winger, for a defender, you expose yourself probably a bit too much. Especially against a team with Mitoma and Minteh, they can be very dangerous in transition."

Do you think the club will regret sending some of these players on loan? It looked like you missed Joao Felix tonight...

"I don't think we miss Joao. Joao is happy there and we are happy Joao is happy there. The only thing I can say is no-one would predict on deadline day we had two strikers injured. This is something that is difficult to think. It unfortunately happened but we have Nico to be back very soon."

How big of a blow is it for Chelsea to be out of the FA Cup this early?

"Yeah, for sure, it is a shame, no doubt. We see how complicated this competition is. We see big clubs against Championship, League One, how difficult this competition is. It is a big shame for us but probably, as I said, if there is something positive it is that we can be focused on the Premier League and Conference, especially in the Premier League. Hopefully we can continue our journey there that for me, has been very, very good until now and hopefully we can finish well."

What would constitute a good season now?

"For me, a good season is seeing the team improving game after game; go through bad moments through difficulty - it is the only thing I think that can bring this club to compete for something important. This is exactly what I think.

"As I said, we can now be focused on the Premier League and Conference. Hopefully we can finish in the right way."

Were you disappointed with the way your players reacted to going 2-1 down tonight?

"No, I don't think so because after the second goal we conceded, I think we had two or three moments, two or three chances where we could score. The reaction has been there but every game is different.

"This game is different from West Ham. Also, we were at home [vs West Ham] in our stadium with our fans - that can help a little bit. In terms of a reaction, after the second goal we conceded, the reaction was there."