Levi Colwill scored the only as Chelsea claimed victory at the City Ground
Head coach Enzo Maresca has rubbed their achievement in the faces of doubters
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By KIERAN GILL
Published: 16:41 EDT, 25 May 2025 | Updated: 16:42 EDT, 25 May 2025
Enzo Maresca bullishly told Chelsea's critics throughout the last season to ‘eff off’ after they won at Nottingham Forest to clinch Champions League qualification.
One of their own in Levi Colwill scored the winner at the City Ground to secure a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League, with Maresca feeling like rubbing their achievement in the faces of those who told them their campaign would end in failure.
‘I didn’t have any doubt about the players,’ said Maresca. ‘The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League.
'They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced.
‘Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have an answer to everything. So in English, how you say? “Eff off” to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.’
Chelsea broke a new record by officially becoming the youngest team in Premier League history. The average age of their line-ups over 2024-25 has been 24 years and 36 days. The previous record was set by Leeds United in 1999-2000 at 24 years and 162 days.
Enzo Maresca bullishly told Chelsea's critics throughout the last season to ¿eff off¿
The Blues secured a place in the Champions League next season with a win at the City Ground
Levi Colwill scored the winner at the City Ground to secure a fourth-placed finish for Chelsea
Maresca continued: '(Manchester) City lost here, Arsenal drew here, Liverpool drew here, Chelsea won. It's not easy. The players, they showed how good they are.
'Unfortunately we are in a business where the people judge us because of the results. And today, in case we were not able to win the game, probably all of you would judge this season a disaster. But it was not a disaster.’
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said while they were proud to have secured European football for next season, they were disappointed to miss out on the Champions League.
‘We didn't achieve the dream,’ he said. ‘Our first half was really good, we created many problems and had chances, but it wasn't enough. The anxiety in the last minutes didn't help us. We are proud and we go again. You know that one goal can change everything.
'The improvement of the players is huge, the platform of the club is good. If you ask me, it's a good season because of the commitment of the players.’