Enzo Maresca reaction – Chelsea manager speaks after frustrating draw with Everton

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca’s post-match thoughts were measured after his Blues were held at bay by the maddening engagement of Sean Dyche’s Everton on Sunday.

(SUMMARY, ANALYSIS — Everton 0-0 Chelsea )

Scoreless draws are a Dyche stable – the Toffees have been involved in five of the rare nine clean sheets this Premier League season – but Maresca is used to his side scoring more goals regardless of opposition.

The Blues’ march towards Liverpool and a Premier League title has been slowed for now thanks to the draw, although Maresca has refrained from discussing their ambitions for silverware this season.

Enzo Maresca reaction – Chelsea manager speaks after frustrating draw with Everton

Here are some selected comments from Enzo Maresca’s post-match press conference, transcribed by football.london:

His feelings on the draw: “I’m absolutely happy. I’m happier today than the Brentford game. It’s a tricky game, tricky stadium, tricky team. They’re one of the five best defensive teams in Europe in terms of clean sheets.”

On Chelsea’s inability to score: “”I said, we already knew it was going to be a tough game in terms of creating chances. If you watch them in the last game against Arsenal, but in general, you always struggle to create chances against them. Of course we could attack better, but there was no room for Cole (Palmer). In the last half hour we tried to move Enzo (Fernandez) as an attacking midfielder, with Malo (Gusto) next to (Moises Caicedo) to change something.

“But overall, in this type of game, knowing you’re not going to create too many chances, you have to be clinical. In the first half we had (Nicolas Jackson) one-on-one with the keeper, the cross from Nico , we had two or three more chances inside the box. If you’re able to be clinical there and score, then the game is probably different, but until that moment you’re going to struggle.”

On Robert Sanchez’s day in goal: “I think Robert saved one in the first half and then he made one more in the second half. We’re obviously happy with Robert. He’s there to help us when we need him.”

More from Maresca, via Match of the Day:

“It was a real game. I’m very happy because the boys’ performance was great. Sometimes you have to play a different game and we learn to play a different game. They are one of the best teams in Europe in terms of clean sheets .”

“We tried everything. Of course you can always do something better, but we are very happy because this is a tough stadium – not only for us, but also in the Premier League.”