In this round of the Premier League, Chelsea drew 2-2 away to Newcastle United. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca attended the post-match press conference.
On Whether He Agrees with Eddie Howe That Newcastle Deserved to Win
Eddie Howe thinks Newcastle should have won the game. Do you agree with him?
I think if the game had ended at half-time, they would have absolutely deserved the victory. But from my point of view, after the second half, we deserved to win the game. That’s my take on it.
I think after we scored the second goal, we had another three or four clear-cut chances to score. They also had one chance—Barnes’ chance, that’s the only real opportunity I can remember. But overall, I think a draw is a fair result.
On Why Chelsea’s First-Half Performance Was So Poor
Why do you think your first-half performance was so bad?
We made some adjustments at half-time. But overall, I think at this stadium, being 2-0 down at half-time, it’s not easy for any team to come back and draw the game.
On Reece James’ Importance
How important is Reece James?
He was excellent again. He played in midfield for an hour in the first half, then switched to full-back for the next 30 minutes. He put in another great shift—not just scoring the goal, but his overall performance was fantastic. We’re all really happy for him.
On What the Team Learned from This Long Week
It’s been a long week for the team. What have you and the team learned from the games this week?
Last week we beat Everton, this week we reached the semi-finals and drew away to Newcastle. It’s an important result. But there’s always room to learn.
Today, we can learn a lot from the first half. At the same time, I’m also satisfied with how the players responded in the second half.
On the Role of Senior Players in Tough Away Games
Your team is very young. When you come to a really tough away ground like Newcastle, is the experience of the senior players important for the team in such an atmosphere?
Yes, absolutely. Because they probably know better how to deal with the noise and the situation. But I think the players we have now have also done really well in this regard.
On the Effort to Come Back from 2-0 Down
You were 2-0 down at half-time. How much effort did you and the players put in to get back into the game?
Yes, exactly. That’s the message I conveyed after the game. Of course, there are things we could have done better in the first half. But the spirit, resilience and togetherness they showed in the second half—they should be proud of that.
Because as you know better than I do, coming here, at this stadium, in this noisy atmosphere, coming back from 2-0 down away to Newcastle is by no means easy. Not many teams can do that, but they did.
On Whether the Comeback Proves Players Still Support Him Amid Football Politics
Enzo, it’s been a difficult week for you on the football politics front. Does the team’s performance and comeback prove that the players still fully support you?
I didn’t have a complicated week; on the contrary, it was a good one. We beat Everton, we beat Cardiff City, and we drew away to Newcastle. So in terms of results, I’m very satisfied.
Of course, there are definitely things we can improve on. But I think we’re moving in the right direction.
On His Half-Time Team Talk That Sparked the Second-Half Response
What did you say to the players at half-time to get such a response from them in the second half?
The message I delivered at half-time was that even though we were 2-0 down and not playing well in the first half, what I saw from the bench was that the plan we had in place was correct.
So my message for the first half was to keep believing in what we were doing. The key was to score the first goal; if we could do that, we would have a chance to win the game. That’s the message I gave at half-time.
On Whether There Was an Argument in the Dressing Room at Half-Time
So there was no argument in the dressing room?
No, no, no. I assure you, that has happened many times, but not today.
On Why He Was Booked by the Referee
Why were you shown a yellow card by the referee?
If… right… then…
I complained because for the same type of foul, Chelsea got a yellow card, but Newcastle committed the same action three times and got away with no punishment.
Challenges from behind, but no yellow cards. That’s why I complained—why one foul gets a yellow card and another doesn’t, for the exact same thing. That’s the reason I protested to the referee.
