Enzo Maresca reaction – Chelsea manager speaks out after frustrating draw at Everton

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s post-match thoughts were measured after his Blues were kept at bay by the mad signing of Sean Dyche’s Everton on Sunday.

(SUMMARY, ANALYSIS — Everton – Chelsea 0-0 )

Goalless draws are a stable thing for Dyche – the Toffees have been involved in five of the rare nine clean sheets this Premier League season – but Maresca is used to his teams scoring multiple goals regardless of the opposition.

The Blues’ advance on Liverpool and the Premier League title is slowing for now thanks to the draw, although Maresca failed to discuss their title ambitions this season.

Enzo Maresca reaction – Chelsea manager speaks out after frustrating draw at Everton

Here are some selected comments from Enzo Maresca’s post-match press conference: transcribed from football.london:

His feelings on the draw: “I am absolutely happy. I’m happier today than the Brentford game. It’s a tricky game, a tricky stadium, a tricky team. They are one of the five best defensive teams in Europe in terms of the number of goals conceded.”

On Chelsea’s inability to score: “I said we already knew it was going to be a difficult game in terms of creating chances. “When you see them in the last game against Arsenal, you generally always struggle to create chances against them. Of course we could attack better, but there was no room for Cole (Palmer). In the last half hour we tried to use Enzo (Fernandez) as an attacking midfielder, with Malo (Gusto) alongside (Moises Caicedo) to change things up.

“But overall you have to be clinical in this type of game because you know you won’t create too many chances. In the first half we (Nicolas Jackson) had one on one with the goalkeeper, Nico’s post, we still had two or three chances in the penalty area. If you are able to stay there clinically and score, the game will probably be different, but until that moment you will struggle.”

On Robert Sanchez’s day in goal: “I think Robert made a save in the first half and another in the second half. We are definitely happy with Robert. He is there to help us when we need him.”

More from Maresca, via Match of the Day:

“It was a real game. I’m very happy because the boys’ performance was fantastic. Sometimes you have to play a different game and we learn to play a different game. They are one of the best teams in Europe in terms of the number of goals they concede.”

“We tried everything. Of course you can always do something better, but we are very happy because this is a tough stadium – not only for us but also in the Premier League.”