Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca frustrated after hard-fought draw with just 48 hours recovery time
06/04/2025
Gtech Stadium, London, UK
06/04/2025
Gtech Stadium, London, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00Did you think the second half was better than the first when they made the changes?
00:06Yeah, I think overall we played a good game.
00:12We prepared the game in the way the game was in terms of starting one way and finishing the other way.
00:18We played first the night, demanding game, 24 hours less than them.
00:24Tricky stadium, tricky game. Sunny day, the pitch was dry.
00:28They tried to kill the tempo of the game.
00:32So for me it was a complete game.
00:34But overall, as I said, I think we did enough to win the game.
00:37We shot more than 20 times and probably the only thing we missed has been the goal.
00:42But overall, happy with the performance.
00:45Can you explain your selection decisions a little bit in terms of the Tottenham game as well and the Legia Warsaw game?
00:50How you managed your squad and why you made the selections you did?
00:54No, the reason why is because we played first the night, so not all of them were 100%.
01:01So the idea was to start in one way and to finish in the other way.
01:05And the plan nearly worked because, as you said, the second half, the last half an hour, probably we created a little bit more.
01:12But I think overall the volume between first half and second half has been enough to win the game.
01:20Some people would say maybe Brentford away these days at the moment is harder than Tottenham at home.
01:25Would it not have been better to rest players maybe there? That's what some people would be asking.
01:30Ah, this is a different opinion.
01:33I am here to try to do the best for the club, for the players.
01:37And I work every day with the players so I can see them the way they are.
01:42And to be honest, I don't know if Spurs at home compared to Brentford away is better or worse.
01:51For me, they are all complicated, you can see.
01:54And Brentford, I think, it's very clear what they try to do, how good they are, not only in set pieces, in transition.
02:03And I think unless the last transition we concede, we control them very well.
02:11Matt?
02:12Your home results have been very good, but you haven't won now in eight Premier League games away from home.
02:19Is that a real problem for Champions League qualification? Does that have to get better before the end of the season?
02:26I think we start the season winning away many games.
02:31We won away games and we struggled a little bit at home.
02:34Now it's the other way.
02:35I think to get top four, top five or fight for title, you need the right balance.
02:42Probably, as you said, in this moment we struggle a little bit more to win games away.
02:46But overall, in terms of numbers, I think we are there since we started.
02:53Hopefully, from now on, we can win some games away.
02:56But also it's important, I think, to continue to win the games at home.
03:00But does it put pressure on your higher form? Does it make it difficult going into those home games?
03:06No, to be honest, I don't prepare.
03:08For instance, I didn't prepare today thinking, guys, it's a long time, we don't win away, we need to win away.
03:13No.
03:16Since we started, I always said the same.
03:18When you are not able to win, it's important that you don't lose.
03:20You take the point, you move the table.
03:24As I said, I think also at this stage of the season, 24 hours makes the difference to rest energy.
03:31But this is the reason why I'm happy with the performance, because they gave everything.
03:38Were you annoyed by the scheduling? Did you feel it was unfair?
03:43I think so, especially at this stage of the season.
03:45We try to adapt.
03:47Because, as I said, the first night was a demanding game.
03:53We said many times that when it's a transition game, it's demanding, the physicality is demanding.
03:59Tottenham was more of a transition than compared to today, for instance.
04:04But at this stage, I think 24 hours makes the difference.
04:08Just on exactly that, Enzo.
04:11FIFA advise that teams should have 72 hours between games, but they don't really follow that themselves.
04:17What sort of a difference does it make and where do you put the blame for this?
04:22No, as you said, if there is a rule that about 72 hours, probably you need to respect that.
04:29But it's not just about today or our game.
04:32It's probably every weekend or many times that there are teams that don't have rest for 72 hours.
04:39And they try to adapt.
04:41At the same time, we try to do our best.
04:43The reason why we start in one way and finish in the other way is because of that.
04:51And probably if we decide to start the first half in the way we finish,
04:56probably after half an hour, 45 minutes, the team was not physically good enough to finish the game.
05:04So we try to find a solution like today.
05:07Liam.
05:08Hi, Enzo.
05:09There's been a lot of focus on Karl Palmer not scoring, but all of the attackers are struggling to score right now.
05:15And in other games you've had things like Fernandes stepping in after Marco Cagliari scoring.
05:20But how important is it in this final stretch that you get more production from all of those attackers?
05:27No, it will be very important to get some more goals from the ones at front.
05:35But again, I think we are three or four scoring goals over the Premier League.
05:43So I don't have the feeling that this team need to score more goals.
05:48And also when we don't score likes today, we shot more than 20 times.
05:52So I think the question is for sure we want more goals from the players at front.
05:59Even from set pieces in general, we want to score more goals.
06:04But I don't think it's a problem in terms of we are top three, top four in terms of scoring goals.
06:12We create chances every game.
06:14Probably we struggle to create chances in one or two games.
06:18But the reason why was also because we play without a nine.
06:21If you remember the last four or five games ago, we struggled to create chances.
06:25But it's also normal.
06:26Now with Nico back, I think we are creating.
06:29But at the same time, we are scoring goals.
06:32And hopefully when you shot more than 20 times, hopefully next time we can score.
06:37Sometimes you need two shots and you score.
06:39It's like this.
06:41Jacob?
06:54No, I think it's just a game.
06:56I don't think it's like effort.
06:58Because at the end, I can see Cristo every day and he's working well.
07:02Sometimes probably he wants to give more during a game and he struggles a little bit.
07:08But for sure I don't think it's a lack of effort.
07:14Tom?
07:32As I said, we plan the game in this way.
07:35To start in one way and to finish in a different way.
07:38So we also think that probably after 45 minutes, one hour, our team was getting better and better.
07:46Because we try to keep the ball, they run.
07:49And after 45 minutes, one hour, they could be tired.
07:52So we expect to improve in the second half.
07:56And then in terms of Cristo, I always say the same.
07:59When they work hard and they give everything, it's not a problem.
08:04And we'll finish, last question.
08:13If I'm aware of that.
08:15How important?
08:17No, for sure it will be very important.
08:21I said since day one that our duty, our target is to bring this club where this club has to be.
08:28That is the Champions League.
08:31And I think since day one, since we started, we have been there.
08:35Always top four, top five.
08:37For part of the season we were second.
08:39So I think since day one we are there and hopefully we can finish there.
08:44Okay, thanks guys.