After a 2-0 win over Everton last weekend, Chelsea now have the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season.
In some ways that’s an amazing stat, given some of the calamitous defensive displays we’ve seen at times. But the recent run of games with Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana playing together at the back has been richly rewarding for the Blues.
They’ve started together six times since the start of November, conceding just once.
Maresca was full of praise for the duo when asked about how important their partnership is in quotes on the club’s official website.
Maresca on defensive pair and their partnership as they go top of the league in vital stat
Enzo Maresca frustrated on the sidelines.
Enzo Maresca frustrated on the sidelines. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“It’s chemistry and when you spend time together, it gets better and better,” the manager explained as his team prepared for a difficult trip to Newcastle.
“When you play the same players, they can be better, know each other, and sometimes just with eye contact they can make some decisions. So it is very important.”
Fofana’s injuries have stopped Maresca forming this partnership sooner – but it’s been clear for some time that this is the best duo available, and the more they play together the better they’re getting. Tomorrow is a huge test for them, and if they can stay at the top of the clean sheet table for the rest of the season, we’ll be doing very well.
In other news…
Maresca also gave a Christmas rallying cry to the fans ahead of the 3 games in 11 days that are coming up, calling for unity and supporters to “trust the process.”
Both Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are scoring and assisting pretty effectively this season, and Maresca spoke a bit about improving them in his presser today.
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