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The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca's post-match press conference after the Blues dismantled Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening
Enzo Maresca has just concluded his post-match press conference following his Chelsea team's 3-0 win over Barcelona this evening.
The Blues produced a stunning display to blow Barca away at Stamford Bridge. An own goal from Jules Kounde got the hosts on their way in the first-half, with Estevao Willian scoring after a fantastic solo run in the second period.
Liam Delap wrapped up the scoring for the dominant hosts to put the icing on the cake. Maresca offered his thoughts to reporters in his post-match presser - and below is every word from the Chelsea head coach:
How big of a win is that for Chelsea?
For me, personally, as you said, it's a big win, especially because the other team was Barcelona. But nothing changed in terms of what team we are, what we can achieve. So for sure it's important tonight's game, but no more than that. It's finished, now focus on the next one that is difficult again.
I was wondering what you said to both Estevao and Liam Delap after their goals?
Estevao, he had a very good game, not only for the goal, because he helped a lot the team in the way we were pressing. Liam also needed this kind of moment, goal, because he's back from injury. I think against Burnley, he was quite good, but he's a No.9, he's a striker, and they need a goal. But tonight we scored three disallowed goals. So I think we created enough to win the game.
How much confidence does that give your team? Does that help you for the Arsenal game?
The feeling was very good, especially as you said, because it was at home with our fans. It's always nice to share this kind of moment. But now, I told the players, next 48 hours, completely switch off, have a rest, recovery energy, because then Sunday we have Arsenal. But my message after the game was just recover energy, that in this moment is the most important thing. And then from Friday we start to think about Arsenal.
But is it important to use a result like this, a performance like this, a night like this, as a springboard to keep going?
Yeah, absolutely. We need to keep the momentum, because it's very nice. And it's much more easy to recover energy when you win games, for sure.
Did Estevao's goal remind you of Lionel Messi?
The goal from Estevao reminded me of the goal he scored against us in the Club World Cup, that is very similar, same action. Estevao needs to relax, he needs to enjoy, he needs to session, he needs to play football. Him, Lamine [Yamal], they are so young, 18, that if you start to talk about Messi, Ronaldo, I think it's too much pressure for young boys like them. 18, they need to enjoy, they need to arrive at the training ground happy. But when you start to compare them with Messi or with Ronaldo, I think it's too much for them.
Did the win against PSG impact your performance tonight?
Yeah. For sure, winning the Club World Cup gives the players the confidence that they need. Last year, we were playing in the Conference League, and I said many times that for me personally, if you want to build a winning mentality, there is only one way. Winning games. Because otherwise, if you don't win games, it's difficult to convince the players, guys, we are building a winning mentality. But when we don't win, it's difficult. So the only way in any competition, Conference League, Champions League this season, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, is to win games. It's the only way to build the winning mentality. And I think the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season helped a lot. And now we are trying to do exactly the same. For sure, the players are better players in this moment compared to last season, because we spent more time together.
You obviously want to protect Estevao as a young boy, at the start of his career. Does it get harder to do that when he plays that well?
No, to be honest. Because if he doesn't play, Pedro Neto plays wide in his position. And Pedro is good. And we are happy with Pedro. We try just to defend the game plan, we use 11 players. Tonight we decided, probably in the most difficult game of the season, we decided to play with Estevao. So I'm not a manager that I don't allow players to play minutes. It's just the game plan. The game plan always decides the first 11. It's the reason why we changed so much. And you say that we are unpredictable. But it's the game plan. The game plan defines the first 11. Now the next one is Arsenal. The game plan is not always good, sometimes it's also wrong. It defines the first 11. And Estevao, when the game plan is for him, he's going to play. And for sure he's going to play many games because he's very good.
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