‘The Stadium’ – Enzo Maresca blames St James’ Park for Chelsea defeat | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca watched on as his Chelsea side lost their High Noon showdown with Newcastle United.

A sunny day brightened even more as Sandro Tonali finished off a great team move inside two minutes.

Newcastle United by far the better and more dangerous team in the opening 35 minutes and then Enzo Maresca saw his striker Nicolas Jackson put a cowardly forearm smash into the face of Sven Botman.

Having only initially booked the Chelsea player, referee John Brooks belatedly red carded Jackson after VAR intervened and sent him to the screen.

Enzo Maresca not happy despite it having been eventually the obvious correct decision, declaring about the Newcastle United fans and St James’ Park; “It can be easy to make some decisions like this in this stadium with its noise.”

Enzo Maresca speaking to BBC Sport after Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0:

“In this stadium it’s already difficult.

“But to come here and for one hour to play with 10 players is not easy.

“Second half the team showed effort, spirit, energy, unbelievable.

“We must keep this spirit and energy for Friday.

“We had three clear chances second half, Cucurella, Enzo [Fernandez] and Reece [James].

“The important thing is to arrive there.

“Unfortunately we didn’t score.

“My message in the last five or six games was the game is gone, move on.”

Enzo Maresca asked about the  Nicolas Jackson red card:

“It’s not only for today, for the next two games, for him the season is finished.

“If the referee decides it’s red it’s because they decide and they are convinced.

“It can be easy to make some decisions like this in this stadium with its noise.”

Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 – Sunday 11 May 12pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Tonali 2, Bruno 90

Chelsea:

Jackson red card 35

Possession was Newcastle 45% Chelsea 55%

Total shots were Newcastle 15 Chelsea 10

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Chelsea 3

Corners were Newcastle 2 Chelsea 8

Touches in the box Newcastle 39 Chelsea 22

Newcastle United team v Chelsea:

Pope, Botman (Miley 55), Schar, Burn, Livramento, Gordon (Krafth 65), Tonali, Bruno (Longstaff 94), Barnes, Isak (Wilson 94), Murphy

Subs:

Dubravka, Lascelles, Osula, Neave, Ruddy

The remaining Newcastle United match schedule:

Sunday 18 May – Arsenal v Newcastle (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 25 May – Newcastle v Everton (4pm)