Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca explained that his players’ resilient performance in difficult conditions overcame the disappointment of dropping two points after his side’s 0-0 draw with Everton.
The blues had to fight preserving parity at a fanatical Goodison Park on sunday After creating the best chances in a tight first half, Chelsea relied on the performance of their goalkeeper Robert Sanchez as Everton came close to breaking the deadlock in the second 45 minutes.
A scoreless stalemate he denied Chelsea the chance to temporarily move above Liverpool at the summit of the Premier League, but Maresca could only see the positives after the game. Indeed, the Italian manager insisted Sunday’s 0-0 draw was more impressive Chelsea win 2-1 against Brentford last weekend
“I’m absolutely happy,” Maresca said. “I’ve just said to the players that I’m happier today than the Brentford game. The reason is because I was quite worried about today’s game – a complicated game, a complicated stadium, a complicated team.”
Everton may be mired in a relegation slump, but Sean Dyche’s side are no pawns. Sunday’s shutout ensured the Toffees will have seven clean sheets, the most in the Premier League this season.
“They’re on top defensively” Chelseacontinued the optimistic chief. “They are one of the top five teams in Europe in terms of clean sheets. You find it difficult to create chances against them and it was not an easy game. You have to cope and learn to play different games; long balls, second, balls, set pieces, football is not just what we do with the ball, it’s also how you defend and tackle.
“Like I said, today happier than he Brentford game For sure we prepared the game as always to try to win the game, but sometimes there is also another team that tries to do the same, so today we are happy.”
Maresca would have been happier if Nicolas Jackson had finished off either of his two chances in the first half. The mercurial striker was capricious on Merseyside, leaving Chelsea four points adrift of a Liverpool side who took their chances emphatically. against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
