Enzo Maresca addressed Chelsea TV following his team’s defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, emphasizing that there were “many, many, many” positives to take from the match.
“The performance, both on and off the ball, was very good,” Maresca stated confidently. “Without the ball, we pressed high and played man-to-man. On the ball, I think the team was executing very well.”
He continued, “The important thing is to come here and stick to our style, to our way of playing, and to aim for the win. We did that until the very end.”
While it’s commendable to maintain such optimism, our views on the performance differ. Yes, there were bright spots, especially during a strong first-half spell where Chelsea seemed to control the game. However, we noticed a noticeable drop in pressing, particularly when the team was behind.
In a more awkward moment during the interview, Maresca was asked about Jadon Sancho’s substitution at halftime. “Just a tactical decision,” he replied curtly, choosing not to elaborate further.
Sancho, who worked hard to earn his place in the starting lineup, now faces stiff competition from Pedro Neto, who is eager to claim his spot. Neto’s introduction had mixed results; while he did seem to charge into a few dead ends, he at least brought energy to the game, posing more of a threat than Sancho did during his rather uninspired first half.
It appears that Sancho might need the right conditions to shine, as he struggled to make an impact in such a high-intensity match.
