Maresca very happy with performance, result, atmosphere in Chelsea’s crucial win against Liverpool

Enzo Maresca did not plan this. He did not set out his team in this way. On the tactical boards in the bowels of Stamford Bridge, presumably there were no diagrams of two lines of four and five, sitting deep and compact, going long, countering at pace. He did want his team conceding possession for such long stretches of the game, trying to keep the Champions-elect of the Premier League at arms’ length.

But that’s what we did. That’s what we had to do. The location, the tactical plan, the ideology — none of that mattered. What mattered was winning.

It’s surely something Maresca himself is learning and learning to be comfortable with. Football in the real world is not always about whatever galaxy-brain tactical scheme you cook up in Football Manager. Sometimes it’s about doing what needs to be done, to get the result that needs to be gotten.

“Very happy with the performance, with the result. I think overall, we deserve to win the game. Has been a very tough game because we didn’t plan [to be] defending deep and wait, and for part of the game we needed to do that. And the players, they did very good with that situation.” “We didn’t risk a lot. They didn’t create chances a lot. We create many chances, we scored three goals. We could score more goals, no doubt, for sure. But for part of the game we defend deep, and it’s not because we decide that, it’s because the other team is so good. And sometimes you have to do that.” “We are creating the right culture. We are creating the right - you know, habit for the players, just to try to be connected also with the fans, with the people. I said that we need them (the fans), and today the environment has been, for me probably the best environment of the season at home.” -Enzo Maresca; source: Chelsea TV via Reddit

Three points against Liverpool, even one that were clearly on the beach already league title in hand, especially at this stage of the season, is worth its weight in Champions League gold. When the visitors did snap out of their hangovers, we saw exactly why they’ve won the league at a canter.

But today belonged to us, for the win, for the vibes, for the mentality shown. Growth and progress and three points? And an own goal by way of a Liverpool defender’s family jewels? What a perfect Sunday.

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