Maresca says Chelsea 'deserved' the winplaceholder image
Maresca says Chelsea 'deserved' the win | AFP via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca has been speaking after Chelsea’s win over Nottingham Forest.
The win makes it back-to-back wins for the Blues, while Nottingham Forest have not won any in eight, and that has cost Ange Postecoglou his job after less than two months. Postecoglou was sacked a matter of minutes after walking down the tunnel after the game.
The City Ground emptied long before the final whistle, with fans still upset with owner Evangelos Marinakis having made a hugely controversial decision to sack Nuno Espirito Santo in favour of Postecoglou. But well aware that it wasn’t working, he has now pulled the trigger.
As for Chelsea, Maresca spoke after the game of his delight at Acheampong getting a big goal at the age of just 19. He said: “I am very happy for him. People will think you trust a player only if he plays and you don't trust if you don't play. I've trusted Josh from the start of last season. He's a fantastic player and will be the future of this club.”
He added; “Reece James is very important. Hopefully he can be fit for more games. Since I've arrived we've been trying to manage him. He's had problems in the past but now he's looking much better."
Asked about being the league’s leading scorers at full-time, he continued: "That means the team are very good. We try to give the players the tools."
The one downside to the win was Malo Gusto getting sent off for a needless second yellow card late in the game. “For sure it's a mistake because it's 3-0, almost 90 minutes,” Maresca said. “We do not need to make a foul. But also it shows Malo doesn't want to lose that dual. Yes it's not good, but the desire to win games is important."
Maresca sad for Ange
Maresca spoke after Postecoglou was sacked by Forest, and he said in response: "I feel really sorry. It's always a shame. But we say many times this is a business where you need to win games. For all of us it's the same consequence.
"First half they were very good, they tried to play their game. Second half we were much-improved and deserved to win the game. Second half we were better, we changed something tactically and overall, again, I think we deserved to win the game."
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