“I warned Enzo Maresca about that particular player, he refused to bench him and He drew the game Vs Everton that could have see him top the league… Enzo Maresca is making the same mistake now, I’m warning him also”: Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel names ONE player who doesn’t deserve to start for Chelsea, warned Maresca about the unforgivable mistake
Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, shared his contentment after his team played out a goalless draw against Everton at Goodison Park. While Chelsea missed several opportunities to secure a victory, Maresca took a moment to applaud Everton’s strong defensive setup, which posed significant challenges throughout the match.
“I’m genuinely thrilled with this result,” Maresca said during the post-match press conference. “I told the team that I am more pleased with our performance today than I was after the Brentford game. We knew going into this match that it would be extremely difficult. Everton’s defensive record is one of the best in Europe, and their discipline at the back makes it incredibly hard for any team to create clear scoring opportunities. We had to adapt and adjust our game plan to try and counter their strength.”
When asked about Chelsea’s strategy during the second half, Maresca emphasized the difficulties of breaking through Everton’s defensive lines. “We were well aware of how challenging it would be to generate meaningful chances, but we focused on improving our attacking play after halftime. Enzo Fernandez shifted into a more advanced role, and we made other tactical changes to try and open up their defense. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the decisive moment to score. However, I’m proud of how the players stayed committed, adapted to the challenges, and continued to push until the final whistle.”
Maresca also singled out Tosin Adarabioyo for his exceptional defensive display, particularly highlighting a crucial block that denied Everton a scoring chance. “Tosin was phenomenal today, and the entire defense performed admirably. Securing a clean sheet is always important, especially considering the number of injuries we’re dealing with at the moment. The resilience and determination shown by the team today is something we can definitely build on for the future.”
He also had words of praise for Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, who made some critical interventions during the match. “Robert had a solid performance, even though he wasn’t tested too often. His contributions were vital when we needed him, and it’s clear that his consistent hard work in training is paying off.”
Maresca acknowledged that the challenging weather conditions, particularly the strong winds, impacted both teams’ ability to execute their usual playing styles. “It was a game unlike most others, with conditions forcing us to rely more on long balls, second balls, and set pieces. Despite this, our players showed tremendous adaptability and a strong sense of togetherness, which I found fantastic. We’re happy to take a point from this difficult match and will now shift our focus to preparing for the next challenge.”
