Enzo Maresca admits he wants this from his future Conference League fixtures | OneFootball

Chelsea played Noah, a 7 year old team from Armenia in the last round of the Conference League.

It was great fun, in a way – lots of debuts, youngsters got a runaround, a hatful of goals, everyone goes home happy.

But how much do you actually learn about the team out there if they’re not pushed at all? While you don’t want tough draining games in midweek, given Enzo Maresca is playing a totally rotated B team, he might want a bit more of a challenge, and so might the players wanting to impress.

Asked about the game in his post-match presser, the Italian admitted it was a much harder game than some they’d had in this competition so far:

“Yes, tough, very tough. This is exactly the way we expected the game, against this team away. Small pitch, it’s always complicated but overall I think we did very well,” the coach explained.

“We could have scored more goals but we also conceded some chances. Overall, I think we deserved to win the game and I’m very happy for the players.”

The idea that these tougher games were better for learning about his players was also put to him:

“Yeah. It was a very good challenge for all the aspects. They were high pressing, they were intense, but no matter what the opposition do, it is important we are ready. It’s important also to continue with that mentality; to try and win all the games.”

Enzo Maresca remonstrates with a ref during a Conference League game. (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

Players also want tougher tests

Players in this B team like Jadon Sancho, Filip Jorgensen, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk and plenty of others are trying to use these games to show the coach they deserve a spot in the Premier League team. And they can do a better job of that against good teams.