Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has thanked the club’s fans for not giving up on the team and cheering them on to victory against Liverpool, the 2024/25 Premier League champions, during their week 35 clash at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool came into the match already champions with nothing to prove. However, they were expected to show what they were made of against the Blues, who have been stop-start with respect to their title and top four finish charge momentum this season. Instead, they met a resolute Blues defence that they could not break down, while facing down an incredible home support that must have shaken their nerves a little.
This conclusion is drawn from their performance, which was not only lacklustre but unworthy of champions. Chelsea, on the other hand, showed that they could have been champions if they put their backs into it.
Maresca showered the fans with praise, stating that their voiced belief is what helped them get the job done against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
“They are all going to be tough games but you have to go game-by-game,” Maresca began. “The reason why the coaching staff were so happy – and so were the fans – is because at this stage of the season, you need to win games.
“For sure, today’s environment was the best environment of the season with our fans. This is what we need every game. They were fantastic, it was so good.
“Today Liverpool again showed the reason they won the Premier League. I promise you we did not plan the game to defend deep, we planned the game to high press in the way we always do, but sometimes the other team is so good that you have to defend deep, you have to adapt and the players dealt with that very well.”
Champions League ambitions and creating the right culture
Maresca also spoke on the race for a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, which will mark a return to the top of the football pyramid in Europe for them after some time away.
Maresca said: “My feeling is that – and I have had this already for a long time from when you work with the players everyday – they are all on the same page and heading in the same direction, in terms of how we want to play but also in terms of creating the right culture. It is so important.”
Chelsea’s next challenge is at home to Djurgårdens IF Fotboll in the UEFA Europa Conference League semifinals, which will also take place at Stamford Bridge. Maresca hopes that the same atmosphere will be available on the day as they aim to get to the final of the competition and not end the season trophyless.
