Chelsea came from 2-0 down to beat Tottenham 4-3 in the Premier League on Sunday
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca goes to embrace Jadon Sancho after beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-3
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca goes to embrace Jadon Sancho after beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-3
(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Despite a thrilling comeback victory over Tottenham, Enzo Maresca has once again dismissed suggestions that Chelsea are in the title race. The Blues, who are currently second in the Premier League, managed to reduce Liverpool's lead at the top to just four points after overcoming a 2-0 deficit in North London.
Spurs capitalised on two errors by Marc Cucurella to take an early lead through goals from Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski. However, Jadon Sancho quickly reduced the arrears and Chelsea were fortunate not to see Moises Caicedo sent off for a high tackle on Pape Sarr.
The game turned in the visitors' favour when Yves Bissouma carelessly fouled Caicedo at the start of the second half, allowing Cole Palmer to equalise from the penalty spot. Palmer then brilliantly set up Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea's third before winning and converting another penalty with a cheeky panenka.
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Although Spurs captain Son Heung-min pulled one back in stoppage time, Chelsea held on for a 4-3 win - their ninth league victory in 15 games under Maresca. This result sees them move clear of Arsenal and Manchester City as Liverpool's closest challengers.
"After the game, my message to the players was to be focused," said Maresca.
"To be focused in the day-by-day, in our session, in the next game on Thursday then Sunday, because if you start to think in two games, three games or in four games where we are? It's completely wrong."
"The main focus has to be enjoy the day off, with family or friends, but when they come back go again 100 per cent, train well, go for the game and no more than that."
"We are happy that our fans are happy. They can dream, they can think everything because on the outside it is quite clear, also inside, the reality is that I said many times for me we are not ready to be there, but the important thing is we improve day by day."
"This for sure is an important win," he added. "First of all for the way that it arrives because to come into this stadium, against this team and to concede two goals but to continue with the same plan on the ball, off the ball, it show how the players are in this moment mentally strong. This is important."
"Since we start, we are trying to work the way we want to play on and off the ball, but also we are trying to work in terms of mentality and togetherness."
"To come into this season to think you are going to win or compete without suffer or without some bad moments is impossible. We were ready for that."
"It is probably too much after 15 minutes to give away two goals but it is the perfect win probably because of this."