Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has come to the defence of Malo Gusto following criticism from some fans on social media over the right-back’s recent form.

Speaking at a press conference, Maresca dismissed the negativity and praised the young defender’s contributions.

“I’m very happy with Malo, to be honest. I think he is doing well with us,” Maresca stated.

The Chelsea boss believes Gusto is being judged unfairly due to the team’s overall struggles.

“In this moment, to judge players, it is probably as a consequence of the results also. Malo helped us a lot when we were in a good run. I think at some point of the season, we won seven, eight or nine games in a row, and he was a fantastic part of that.”

With Reece James unable to play regularly due to injuries, Gusto has become Chelsea’s only senior option at right-back. At the start of the season, he was widely praised as a strong alternative, but his dip in form has coincided with the team’s inconsistent performances.

Despite this, Maresca remains confident in Gusto’s ability and role in the squad.

“In this moment, we can probably only judge Malo as a consequence of the results, but Malo is a main player, an important player, and he is doing well.”

As Chelsea continue to push for a top-four finish, Gusto will be expected to play a key role in Maresca’s setup.