Chelsea 'Played With Fire' In Europa Conference Win, Says Maresca

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Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with Chelsea's 2-0 win in their Europa Conference League play-off first leg but acknowledged that the team faced challenges in the final moments. Goals from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke secured Maresca's first victory as Chelsea's manager. However, late pressure from the Swiss side almost changed the outcome, with Jeremy Guillermenot missing two opportunities to reduce the deficit during stoppage time.

Maresca noted that despite improvements from their Premier League loss to Manchester City, Chelsea still has much to work on for consistency. "I was a bit worried because in the last 10 minutes, we played a little bit with fire because we could manage the game completely differently," he said post-match. He emphasized the importance of learning how to manage games better, especially by keeping possession on the opponent's side rather than their own half.

The match also provided an opportunity for Maresca to rotate his squad, making nine changes. This allowed more players to gain valuable minutes on the pitch. Despite some frustrations with Mykhailo Mudryk's performance, particularly in a hesitant first half, Maresca remains committed to helping him find consistency. "This is the mission, this is Mudryk, not only tonight but since he joined the club," he added.

Maresca highlighted Mudryk's inconsistency when he has possession of the ball. "I think he had good moments but when he has the ball you don't know if you'll get one thing or another. It is consistency. We are going to try and help him to change," Maresca explained. He stressed that most of Mudryk's mistakes stem from poor decision-making in the final third.

There was also concern among Chelsea supporters when Cole Palmer left the pitch holding his hamstring. However, Maresca reassured fans that it was only a minor issue. "Cole felt something but he looks fine. Hopefully, it is no problem, and he can be available for Sunday's game [at Wolves]," Maresca stated.

Despite these challenges, Maresca found positives in Chelsea's performance and believes there are many good aspects to build upon. The victory was crucial for boosting team morale and providing a foundation for future success.

The win against their Swiss opponents marked an important step for Chelsea under Maresca's leadership. As they continue their campaign, managing game pressure and improving player consistency will be key areas of focus.

Overall, while pleased with the result, Maresca acknowledges that Chelsea must continue working hard to achieve consistent performances throughout the season.