
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has played down title race discussions following a frustrating game in which his side missed numerous chances and suffered a setback.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Maresca reflected on the match and Chelsea’s position at the halfway point of the season.
“Strange game in terms of creating many chances and we could’ve scored many, but they saved goals on the line or great saves from the keeper,” he said. “We could do many things better, defend better in some moments.”
Addressing the penalty decision that impacted the result, Maresca added: “They said it’s a bit soft, but we have to accept it’s a penalty.”
The Chelsea boss also explained his decision to rotate the squad, emphasizing the importance of giving opportunities to deserving players. “We made four changes from the last game because they all deserve to play. Now we’ve finished the first part of the season, no one expected us to be where we are. We are in a good position but we can do many things better. It’s a long race.”
Despite the team’s missed opportunities, Maresca dismissed the notion that Chelsea’s issues are tied to their strikers. “We had chances with Joao [Felix] and Noni [Madueke], so it’s not about the striker. Sometimes you create chances and it doesn’t go for you.”
He reiterated Chelsea’s approach to taking each game as it comes, without getting distracted by title ambitions. “We focus game by game. We are not focused on title race or those things.”