Enzo Maresca has been put under pressure at times in his first season as Chelsea boss (Image: Getty)
took to social media to issue a message following victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. The Blues defeated the basement dwellers 1-0, but it was another tense outing for Maresca, whose tactics had been booed by the faithful.
Marc Cucurella proved to be the difference maker for , with . were forced to huff and puff for the three points, with Leicester defending resolutely throughout the contest and threatening to snatch an equaliser late on.
It was by no means the confidence-boosting victory Maresca would’ve hoped for heading into Sunday’s game, with the Italian coach’s tactics having once again come under fire. Boos were heard by the crowd when Enzo Fernandez played the ball backwards towards the goalkeeper while were pushing for a goal.
Maresca has by no means been a fan’s favourite since arriving at the Bridge and the former Leicester chief urged fans to stay unified after the much-maligned Leicester showing. Posting on , Maresca said: “All together we are stronger. THANK YOU #ChelseaFC.”
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Enzo Fernandez’s actions had been booed by the Chelsea fans vs Leicester (Image: Getty)
Maresca had commented on the boos during his post-match debrief, insisting Fernandez’s decision to pass backwards is exactly what he was asking for. He said: “Yeah, but the good thing is that Fernandez knows that if he doesn’t play back, I will change him. If the ‘keeper plays long, I will change him. This is what we have.”
Fernandez played the full 90 minutes against , completing 52 of his 66 attempted passes during the game, at a completion rate of 79 per cent. He was particularly industrious in the final third though, with the Argentine midfielder creating six chances for his teammates, including the pass that led to Cucurella’s winner.
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There had also been some groans when , who in the first half had missed a penalty, was hooked with the scoreline delicately balanced at 1-0. However, Maresca revealed after the game it was because the Englishman hadn’t been feeling well the night before.
He explained: “It’s very easy: Cole, yesterday, didn’t train and during the night, he didn’t feel well. The reason why he didn’t train yesterday is because he didn’t feel well. This morning, he woke up and he asked me, ‘I want to be on the pitch because I want to help this team, this club to play Champions League’.
“So in the last two days, he was completely out. Fever, is it something I can say in English? Diarrhoea. In the last 48 hours, he didn’t train with the fever and this bad feeling. This morning, he asked to play the game and this shows how these players want to bring the club where it belongs to.”
moved into the top four with the win over Leicester, with the west Londoners next in action against Copenhagen in the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie.