“No, no, no…” – Maresca clear over Cole Palmer’s angry reaction to being subbed | OneFootball

Chelsea stuffed up their great chance to win against Aston Villa today after taking the lead at home.

After the game, Enzo Maresca was asked to explain the collapse suffered by his team, another pretty meek capitulation from a side that has made a habit of it.

“The goal we conceded is the turning point. We were completely in control of the game – and this has happened before. We need to do better.”

Well obviously the goal was a turning point. The second goal was even more of a turning point. The manager blamed his players lack of good finishing for not killing the game off earlier:

“For sure, we have to be clinical. We should have scored two or three goals by the time they scored the goal. We need to manage the game better.”

Maresca explains Cole Palmer sub and reaction

Cole Palmer is taken off for Estevao. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Maresca was also asked about Cole Palmer, who was taken off shortly before the collapse and looked pretty unhappy about it. The manager claimed he wasn’t upset with the reaction from his number 10:

“No, no, no. He was working very good. On and off the ball, he was pressing good. [I took him off because] we have another game soon.”

We can understand why Palmer was frustrated, we can also understand why Maresca took him off, given the number of games we’re playing in the next few weeks.

In other news…

Despite Chelsea dominating (and despite scoring their goal), Joao Pedro was just not good enough for Chelsea in the game, failing to create enough threat for his team.

Reece James’ wicked corner was turned in by Joao Pedro to open the scoring for the Blues in this game, a well deserved goal for the team who had dominated the game throughout.