Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expresses gratitude to fans after Cardiff win, amid speculation of internal club tensions.
Enzo Maresca is appreciative of the backing from the club’s fans after they sang his name during Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Cardiff in the League Cup quarter-finals.
The victory marked Chelsea’s progression to the semi-finals, thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s double and a Pedro Neto strike.
This win is a welcome relief for Maresca, who had previously expressed frustration with the lack of support from “many people” at the club, fueling speculation of internal tensions.
The Italian manager had claimed that the previous 48 hours had been his worst at Stamford Bridge, sparking concerns about his relationship with the club’s hierarchy.
Despite the challenges, Maresca’s team showed resilience in subduing spirited Cardiff, with the manager making 11 changes, including resting England forward Cole Palmer. The win is Chelsea’s second in six games, and Maresca is now looking forward to the next challenge.
Maresca acknowledged the fans’ support, saying, “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.”
He also praised his players, saying, “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.”
When asked if he had spoken to any of the Chelsea hierarchy since last weekend, Maresca replied, “No, as I said yesterday, the day after Everton, I started to prepare Cardiff. Focus on Cardiff. I didn’t speak with anyone.”
Since arriving from Leicester in 2024, Maresca has taken the Blues to three semi-finals in 18 months. Maresca will now focus on Saturday’s Premier League clash at Newcastle, without teenage winger Estevao, who has a “small muscle problem”
There are rumours of friction between the club’s hierarchy and Maresca but Maresca maintains that he is happy at the club, saying, “I always said that I’ve been happy since day one. So it’s not that tonight I’m not happy. I’m happy.”
