In the world of football, there’s often a romantic obsession with style—flair, possession, dominance, and goals scored in majestic fashion. But as Enzo Maresca reminded Chelsea fans after a gritty win, sometimes it’s not about how you win, but simply that you do win.

“It was an ugly, dirty win,” Maresca told Sky Sports after the final whistle against Tottenham. His tone wasn’t apologetic. It was satisfied. It was the sound of a manager who understands that in this business, especially at the sharp end of the season, beauty takes a backseat to results.

And rightly so.

Chelsea’s performance might not go down in the history books for elegance, but it showed something arguably more important—resilience. The Blues battled, they suffered, and they got the job done. That, as Maresca hinted, is the hallmark of a team that wants to be considered serious.

“If we want to become an important team, we need to win in a dirty way, ugly way,” he said.

That’s a nod to the mental and tactical maturity Maresca is trying to instill at Stamford Bridge. Yes, he wants his team to play the attractive, possession-based football he’s known for. But he also knows the road to success isn’t always paved with tiki-taka.

For large spells, Chelsea were “very good,” Maresca noted. But the closing minutes—scrappy and nerve-wracking—were far from his ideal vision. Yet that’s where his satisfaction came from. His players dug deep. They didn’t fold. And as the Premier League season reaches its climax, that grit could be the difference between a strong finish and a forgettable one.

Maresca’s message to Chelsea fans is clear: the project is still in motion. The philosophy is still growing. But for now, don’t be afraid to embrace the ugliness. These dirty wins might not make highlight reels, but they’re the kind of moments that forge winning teams.

It might not have been pretty—but it was priceless.