Manager Enzo Maresca relishes support of Chelsea fans after difficult week
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrating with scorers Pedro Neto (left) and Alejandro Garnacho after the 3-1 League Cup quarter-final away win over Cardiff City on Dec 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Enzo Maresca said he appreciated the backing of Chelsea’s fans after they sang his name during the 3-1 win at third-tier Cardiff City in the League Cup quarter-finals
The Blues moved into the last four thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s double and a Pedro Neto strike after David Turnbull equalised for the League One leaders in the 75th minute.
Turnbull got on the end of Perry Ng’s floated cross into the box to steer his header into the net. Ng is a Singapore permanent resident who is looking to play for the Republic’s national team
The 29-year-old defender, who made his 200th appearance for the Bluebirds against the Blues, told the club’s website: “We can be proud of our performance tonight. We went toe-to-toe with them, we had nothing to lose, and I thought we were fantastic.
“The goals were a bit sloppy, which is a bit frustrating, but a fantastic night, unbelievable atmosphere, and now we can kick on from here.”
Maresca’s men did not have it all their own way in a hard-fought clash, but reaching a third semi-final in 18 months provided further evidence of the Italian’s impact since he arrived from Leicester City in 2024.
It was a well-timed win, after Maresca claimed following the 2-0 success over Everton
His rant had fuelled speculation that he was criticising the club’s co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali and sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
“I’m just happy, we’re going to play another semi-final and I think it’s what the fans deserve,” Maresca said, after making a point of marching across the pitch to acknowledge the fans at the final whistle.
“It was a great moment, I appreciate, always thankful. In some moments when you don’t win games, they have been not happy, but it’s normal. But overall, the fans have always been there.”
For now, things are fine. But it has been suggested that Maresca was unhappy with the failure of Chelsea’s hierarchy to publicly support him amid criticism of his rotation policy during the team’s recent dip in form.
The win over Cardiff was only their second in their last six games in all competitions.
But Maresca, who led the Blues to Club World Cup and Conference League glory earlier in 2025, was serenaded by Chelsea’s travelling supporters, who sang his name throughout the match at Cardiff City Stadium.
Asked if he had spoken to any of the Chelsea hierarchy since last weekend, he said: “No, as I said yesterday (Dec 15), the day after Everton, I started to prepare Cardiff. Focus on Cardiff.
“I didn’t speak with anyone. I didn’t speak, no it’s OK. I always said that I’ve been happy since day one. So it’s not that tonight I’m not happy. I’m happy.”
Maresca appears to have the full support of his players after they battled to subdue a spirited Cardiff following the manager’s risky decision to make 11 changes, including resting star attacker Cole Palmer.
He was also without teenage winger Estevao Willian, who will miss the Dec 20 English Premier League clash at Newcastle United with a “small muscle problem”.
“These are the kind of games that I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are tricky games,” Maresca added.
“Every season, there are teams that they lost against League Two or League One (teams). You need to pay attention, you need to do the right things.” AFP, REUTERS
