Enzo Maresca expressed his delight after being celebrated by Chelsea fans following their Carabao Cup quarterfinal victory against Cardiff City.
The Chelsea manager made headlines after Saturday’s match against Everton, stating that the 48 hours leading up to that game had been his most challenging time at Stamford Bridge.
During a press conference ahead of the Cardiff match, Maresca deflected multiple questions aimed at clarifying his earlier comments and noted that he had not communicated with the club’s management since the weekend.
“I’m just happy that we’re moving on to another semifinal, and I believe that’s what the fans deserve,” Maresca said as he celebrated with Chelsea supporters after the final whistle and listened to them sing his name.
“It was a wonderful moment, and I’m always grateful. There have been times when the fans were unhappy due to losses, but that’s expected. Overall, they have consistently supported us.”
“These are the types of matches that deepen my affection for the players; they can be tricky, and it’s easy to underestimate them.”
“Every season, some teams experience unexpected losses to lower league teams. It’s crucial to remain vigilant and perform well.”
Alejandro Garnacho scored twice, while fellow substitute Pedro Neto also found the net, as Chelsea’s bench players made a significant impact in the second half.
When asked if he had spoken with club officials since the Everton match, Maresca replied: “No, I focused on preparing for Cardiff right after the game. Now, I’m looking ahead to our next match against Newcastle, and I haven’t spoken with anyone.”
“I’ve always been happy since my first day here. So, it’s not that my happiness has changed today. I’m happy.”
“We have three hours to get to Cobham [Chelsea’s training ground], and I plan to watch two matches of Newcastle.”
“There’s no time to waste. The players need the time; our focus as staff is solely on preparing for the next match against Newcastle.”
Maresca added that Brazilian winger Estêvão will miss the Newcastle game due to a “minor muscle issue” that also kept him out of the Cardiff match.
David Turnbull nearly sparked a surprise for the League One side, equalizing with a superb diving header just 15 minutes from the end.
Cardiff’s manager Brian Barry-Murphy commented: “It’s often the hope that can be most painful when you score a goal.”
“I felt we had momentum and a great opportunity to potentially take the lead, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“The support from the fans was fantastic, even until the final minute, despite the score at 3-1.”