What Enzo Maresca did instantly after Chelsea beat Liverpool tells you a lot | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca talked ahead of today’s game against Liverpool about how Chelsea needed to just be calm and manage their emotions, taking these last games as they come and not getting distracted by the big picture.

He didn’t play down the importance of the game, but just tried to take the pressure on his players down a bit. There was the occasional moment in the game where he revealed briefly how much he was feeling it – like when he turned to his bench and cursed in Italian at a backwards pass to Robert Sanchez, but he otherwise tried to transmit calm to his players.

But when the final whistle had gone and the 3 points were secure, he let his emotions out a little more:

“The way Enzo Maresca embraced his backroom staff after that was testament to how important a victory that was. He’s called the last few games of this season finals and that was another one they came come through,” Sky Sports’ Ron Walker noted at full time.

It wasn’t full blown celebrations just yet – but we could be just a couple of wins away from that.

Pundits praises Chelsea’s improved showing against Champions

Chelsea celebrate Liverpool win. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Walker also noted that this was more than just 3 points – even though that was the most important thing. Despite Liverpool’s changes there’s no denying that the Blues put in a really good performance regardless:

“After a nervous, unconvincing victory over Everton last weekend, this was much more like it. Forget the Liverpool changes, Chelsea were a lot more fluid than we have seen. So much of that comes down to the return to form of Palmer, especially in the second period.”

Palmer was great, no doubt about it, but it was a full team performance, with plenty of Blues shining. More of that next week, please.