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Enzo Maresca has opened up on the pressure of winning trophies at Chelsea and also why he celebrated so wildly when Estevao Willian scored the late winner against Liverpool.
The Italian joined the Blues from Leicester City in June 2024 and had an impressive first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. As well as finishing fourth and subsequently qualifying for the Champions League, Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League and then the Club World Cup.
“It's one of the most important clubs in the world,” Maresca said at the Trento Sports Festival, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio. “In the last three or four years, for various reasons, it (Chelsea) has struggled.
"Having brought the club back to a great level is a great satisfaction. When I signed for Chelsea, I felt a bit of pressure of being the only Italian not to win here, but fortunately, that hasn't been the case.”
Chelsea face Nottingham Forest after the international break but Maresca will not be on the touchline at the City Ground. The 45-year-old was sent off for two bookable offences during Chelsea's 2-1 win over Liverpool just before the break.
Brazilian wonderkid Estevao scored a 95th-minute winner for the west Londoners, sparking wild celebrations inside the stadium. Maresca himself darted down the touchline to join in the celebrations by the corner flag and was shown a second yellow card as a result after picking up his first in the opening half, as he protested Anthony Taylor’s decision to not award the Blues a penalty.
Asked about his celebration, the head coach said it was an “instinctive” reaction. "It was a huge emotion (against Liverpool). It's my second season at Chelsea and it was the first time we won at home in the last minute," he said.
"The sending-off? [I’ve said] many times, football is passion, instinct. I probably didn't have time to think. It was an instinctive reaction, but I think it was worth it.”
While Maresca won't be on the touchline for Saturday's Premier League fixture, Chelsea will definitely be without Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo and Liam Delap for the game, while there are also injury concerns over Enzo Fernandez, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James and Andrey Santos.
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