Enzo Maresca relieved after clinical Chelsea clobber Southampton 4-0 to move up to fourth

LONDON – Enzo Maresca admitted he was relieved after Chelsea climbed to fourth place in the English Premier League with a 4-0 rout of woeful Southampton on Feb 25.

The Blues got back on track after three successive defeats in all competitions with a dominant display at Stamford Bridge.

Christopher Nkunku put the home side ahead and Pedro Neto doubled their lead before Levi Colwill bagged the third just before the break.

Marc Cucurella then capped Chelsea’s biggest league win since thrashing Southampton 5-1 in early December.

Pointed questions were being asked about Maresca after Chelsea were beaten 2-1 at Aston Villa last weekend, a limp performance that followed successive losses to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League and FA Cup.

“We all needed that. We were in a bad run in terms of results. But the performance was always there, maybe except against Brighton. We are happy,” the manager said.

“This month and half has been when I have pushed players even more to believe in the process.

“It’s normal to go through some bad moments. It’s about how we react and how we continue to believe in what we do. The players are fantastic and worked hard every day.”

Underlining the growing frustration at Chelsea, over a hundred fans gathered outside the Bridge to protest against Todd Boehly’s ownership group before kick-off, chanting “We want our Chelsea back” and singing former owner Roman Abramovich’s name.

But Maresca had insisted he was “more sure” than ever that his team were on the right track, and they repaid his belief with a convincing result, albeit against a moribund team rooted to the foot of the table.

Chelsea’s third league win in 11 matches also revived their bid to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2022-23.

“In this moment, we have five, six, seven important injuries. We started the season very good for a long period. Then with injuries, especially to our box striker, we tried different solutions,” Maresca added.

“We tried with Neto as a No. 9 last week. He was good then and tonight as well. We expect more from Nkunku. But at the same time, we try to understand him. He is not a No. 9 and not a winger. He is an attacking midfielder. The problem is that sometimes we need to find the balance.”

One disappointment on an otherwise morale-boosting night for Chelsea was the form of their talisman Cole Palmer, who again failed to capitalise on good chances and endured a frustrating seventh game in a row without a goal.

But Maresca said Palmer would be fine, saying he has seen other players go through awkward periods in their careers.

“We are all former players. All of us went through some bad moments. You cannot expect Palmer to be like he was last season or how he was in the first part of the season. It’s normal. He is human,” the Italian said.

“It’s about how you react. Keep working, keep laughing, keep calm, be happy and enjoy the football. It’s the only thing you have to do.”

Southampton, meanwhile, have a meagre nine points from 27 matches, with 11 goals conceded in their last three league games.

No wonder manager Ivan Juric branded their season a “disaster” this week.

With last season’s promotion a distant memory, the Saints look set to replicate the 2022-23 campaign, when they were relegated after finishing bottom.

“I think the first 25 minutes was really good, really great. We created two chances, but we concede a goal to a set piece, it cannot happen,” said Juric.

“And then we fight again, but in details we were bad in the first half, even when we were playing good.

“This is a really tough moment for everybody in the club... But I think it maybe can be good for the future to create something.

“They are stronger, better to understand all the mistakes and try to think positively, even in this negative moment.” AFP, REUTERS