After beating Gent 4-2 at home in the first round of the UEFA Europa League stage, Chelsea manager Maresca attended a press conference to comment on his team's performance and answer questions from journalists.
Maresca began by saying that the team showed good form on both the offensive and defensive ends, but he also emphasized that the team still has a lot of room for improvement. "We not only performed well on the offensive end, but we also did well on the defensive end. But of course, there are still a lot of things we can do better, both on offense and defense." He made it a point to say that even though the team was up 4-1, they couldn't let up and had to stay focused until the end of the game. "Probably the most important thing we learned tonight is that even when you have a big lead, you have to keep it up and not give up another goal."
On Dewsbury Hall's goal, Maresca said it was very important to him and revealed how well he knows and supports the young player. "I know Kiernan well from last year and I completely understand how difficult it is for him at the moment. But he needs to understand that we want him and he has his place here." He celebrated Dewsbury-Hall's goal because he knew the player needed that encouragement.
Speaking about the squad, Maresca emphasized that Chelsea doesn't have two squads, only one. He said that the players who played do not mean that they will not be able to play in the upcoming matches, and that it is important that the team maintains its qualities when replacing players. "We don't have two line-ups, just one team. The important thing is that you can see the team's idiosyncrasies when you change players."
Maresca had high praise for the performances of Cesare Casadei and Renato Vega. He believes that Casadei has excelled in the defensive midfield position, is physically strong and has improved his ball control. Vega, on the other hand, showed his versatility as a defensive midfielder, wingback or attacking midfielder.
In addition, Maresca congratulated Nkunku on his selection for France and believes that it is a good thing for the team. Although Nkunku and Wesley Fofana haven't started as well as expected at Chelsea due to injuries, Maresca recognized them as players and their performances.
Finally, regarding FIFA's request for Chelsea to field a "strong squad" for the Club World Cup, Maresca said he had no problem with that and promised to try to field a strong team for every match.
