And Maresca's words of advice worked out well as Chelsea fought back to pick up a point on Tyneside.
[Newcastle](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastleunited/?ref=ed_direct) were outstanding in the first half against the Blues and raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Nick Woltemade's double, before Chelsea hit back after the break with Reece James and Joao Pedro on the scoresheet.
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Home boss Eddie Howe claimed his Newcastle side deserved to win but, on balance of the full game, Maresca disagreed.
He said: “I think after the first half, they deserved to win the game, for sure. From my point of view after the second half, we deserved to win the game. This is my point of view.
“After the second gal we scored, we had three or four clear chances to score one more. They also had one with Barnes – that is the only one I remember as a real chance – but overall, I think the draw is correct.
He added: “The key of the first half for me was the goal we conceded because after three minutes, you concede a goal and the game goes in the direction they want, so the goal we conceded, for me, is the key.
“And then second half, I think we scored twice, we could have scored more goals. We changed something at half-time, we adjusted something at half-time, but again over all I think in this stadium, 2-0 down at half-time and to come back is not easy for any team."
Maresca didn't panic at the break despite his side's struggles in the opening 45 minutes.
“The message at half-time - because even if we were 2-0 down after the first half and the performance was not good, but from the bench I could see that the plan we prepared was the right one – so the message was just continue to trust what we do.
“It was a matter of scoring the first one and if we are able to do that, we have a chance to win the game, so this was my message at half-time."
Asked whether there were any angry words said in the away dressing room at the interval, he said: "No. No, no, no, no. No. Many times, it happens, I promise you, but not today."