Enzo Maresca said the Carabao Cup third-round away game against Lincoln City was a new experience for many players. He believes the team can learn from the experience and be prepared for future away games in lower leagues.  

Chelsea have endured a fluctuating run of away games over the past week. They enjoyed a Champions League victory at the modern Allianz Arena before facing a thrilling clash with Premier League rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 enthusiastic fans.  

On the other hand, the team played their Carabao Cup match at the more compact LNER Stadium, facing intense hostility from League One teams and their home fans, who were eager to defeat the top flight and try to cause a historic cup upset.  

The opponents certainly fought hard for the victory, taking the lead in the first half and forcing Chelsea into a tight defensive stance at Lincoln City. Two quick goals from Tyrique George and Facundo Bonanotte changed the game, securing their place in the fourth round. Enzo Maresca also explained why this match was so different from most he's used to.  

Enzo Maresca said: "Sometimes, the key to a game is the players' fighting spirit and determination to win the second goal, but experience is also important. I know that some players lack experience in this kind of game, such as Jamie Gittens, who has never faced a League One team in a similar game, and the same goes for Jorel Harto."  

"In this type of match, you have to play differently. It's more about desire and determination. This match is different from usual and requires a different style of play. In a tight contest, the opponent's desire to win is often stronger. The key is not pure strength, but the fighting spirit to win the second goal."  

Enzo Maresca added that this was a completely new experience for many of Chelsea's players, but it was also a valuable learning opportunity, allowing them to understand the severity of the competition and be fully prepared for future away games against Football League clubs in the knockout stages.  

He continued: "We have five or six players who have never experienced this type of game before. In the pre-match meeting I asked everyone how many of us had experienced this before, because this game requires a different approach. If we face a League One or League Two team away in the next round of the Carabao Cup, the experience gained from this game will undoubtedly help us cope better."  

“We really needed to gain experience in this kind of competition because, although the players are quite young and experienced, they had never participated in a similar competition before. This game was very exciting and a valuable experience for them. More importantly, we won the game in the end.”