Maresca hopes Chelsea can quickly refocus and concentrate on winning the next game.
2025-12-10 02:12
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said the team must recover quickly from the defeat in the Champions League group stage and turn all their attention to the Premier League match against Everton this weekend to ensure a timely rebound.
In the Champions League group stage, Chelsea took the lead with a goal from João Pedro, marking his first Champions League goal. However, Chelsea failed to maintain their lead. Atalanta staged a dramatic comeback in the tense second half to secure a 2-1 victory.
In a post-match interview, Maresca believed that Chelsea lost some control of the game after conceding the first goal, and pointed out that the team missed two good opportunities to extend their lead in the second half. He stated bluntly that both goals could have been avoided, and emphasized that conceding at crucial moments changed the rhythm of the entire match.
This defeat dropped Chelsea to 11th in the Champions League standings, but Maresca stated that the team still has a chance to qualify directly for the Champions League round of 32. He said, "If we want to finish in the top eight, we have to win both games. Otherwise, we'll have to fight for qualification through the play-offs."
However, Maresca is currently more focused on the immediate task: the Premier League match against Everton. He sees this game as a crucial opportunity for Chelsea to recover from their defeat and get back on track.
“Now that the game is over, we must focus on Saturday’s game. We need to start winning as soon as possible,” Maresca stated firmly.
Facing the pressure of qualifying for the Champions League and a packed schedule, Chelsea must quickly adjust their form and find victory in domestic competitions to ensure the team remains competitive at crucial junctures.
