Every word Enzo Maresca said on Chelsea loss, fresh injury blow and why he didn't bring on Estevao

The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca's post-match press conference after the Blues were beaten 2-1 by Atalanta despite taking the lead in the first-half in Bergamo

Enzo Maresca has just concluded his post-match press conference following Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Atalanta on Wednesday evening.

The Blues took the lead on 25 minutes courtesy of Joao Pedro, but Gianluca Scamacca's header levelled the match for the hosts in the second-half. Charles De Ketelaere scored the winner for Atalanta late on to ensure it was another disappointing evening for Chelsea on their travels.

Maresca has just offered his reflection on what he witnessed in Italy. Here is every word from the Italian's press conference:

How did that game slip away from you in the second half?

I think after the goal we conceded, we lost a little bit of control of the game. In the first half, we scored the goal, we conceded something, but also we created some chances. In the second half, I think we had two good chances to score the second one. And then again, after we conceded the 1-1 [goal], we lost a little bit of control of the game, and then we conceded the second one. I think both goals, we can avoid both of them, they're quite easy goals.

Could you just talk us through some of your changes tonight, particularly half-time, Trevoh Chalobah comes off, and then Malo Gusto comes on for Enzo Fernandez?

No, both changes because Trev and Enzo, they are both playing every minute in every game, so both, they were not 100%. Also, Trev's decision is because he was on a yellow card, so to avoid a little bit of that. So this is the reason why we changed that.

Obviously, it leaves the team in a difficult position to finish in the top eight. Are you aware of how difficult that could make your fixture list for the next few weeks?

Yes, we are aware, absolutely. But now that the game is finished, now the focus has to be on Saturday game, because now we need as soon as possible to win games.

Is two wins out of the next two games a must? And how is Wesley Fofana?

Yes, probably with two wins, probably with 16 points, you can be in the top eight. Not sure about that, but now the focus has to be that game at all. And then the next one, for sure. If we want to try to finish top eight, we need to win both. Otherwise, we try to play the play-off and then go to the next round. And Wes has a problem with his eye. In this moment, it's quite bad and he is struggling to see a little bit, but hopefully he can be available for Saturday.

Is the rotation policy working when results are this inconsistent?

I think tonight, first XI, we had inside the pitch eight, nine players that they play against Tottenham, they play against Barcelona, they play against Wolves, Arsenal, I mean, we had eight, nine players that they are the ones that they are playing every time, these kind of games. So if you see the five changes that we did compared to Bournemouth, it's different. But if you see that inside the pitch, we had eight, nine players that they are the same, Barcelona, Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves, you know, these kind of games. But the ones that they play tonight are the ones that they are playing almost all the games.

What needs to be different for you to start getting these away results over the course of this competition? Is it execution? Is it mentality? Is it something else?

For sure, we can see two goals that for me both we can avoid that, two easy goals. And then also in terms of when you concede, the first one is the moment that you are probably not able to use the control of the game. And I have the feeling that after the goal we conceded, we lost a little bit the control of the game.

Did you plan on bringing Estevao Willian on? Was it stopped because you had to bring on Tosin Adarabioyo for Fofana?

The idea, the change of Tosin, is because Wes went in to change him. So that was a bit of a force, for sure. With one more change, probably there was more chance for Estevao to go inside or for Andrey [Santos] to go inside. But then with that change, it changed a little bit the plan of the game.