Enzo Maresca has yet to speak to the press after Chelsea’s 0-0 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, but he has had a word with the Match of the Day cameras.
As you’d expect, the manager was very positive, despite a slightly disappointing result on an afternoon where we could have gone top had we scored a goal. He insisted he was actually happier with the performance today than with what he saw against Brentford a week ago:
“I’m very happy, I told this to the players. I’m more happy than the Brentford game. Everton is a tricky game, tricky stadium, tricky team, they’re one of the five best teams defensively in Europe in terms of clean sheets,” the manager said as a way of excusing his side’s ability to create clear cut chances.
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Coaches always look for the positives, but in this case we actually believe him. In the Brentford game, the chances just fell our way and we got the goal we needed. Even then, we really toiled to get the second, and then totally lost control of the game at home as they pushed us hard. Despite getting a second goal, we allowed Thomas Frank’s team to score, setting up a nervy finish.
Chelsea gain control – but lose attacking edge as Blues drop two points
Pedro Neto reacts to a poor ref's decision. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Pedro Neto reacts to a poor ref’s decision. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Today was the opposite – we had control of the game for 90 minutes, a few hair set pieces aside. But the chances we had early on didn’t go in, and the match stayed very tense and tight as we failed to break down a solid side.
Our bad run against Everton at Goodison continues – but despite a frustrating result it was a performance with positives, and on another day we might have had 3 points.