Chelsea swept Shamrock Rovers 5-1 in a thrilling match in the 6th round of the UEFA Europa League, leading the league without a doubt and advancing to the knockout stage with their heads held high. After the match, Chelsea coach Maresca faced the media in a press conference and talked about the match and the team.
In the face of this overwhelming victory, Maresca exclaimed, "I am sincerely delighted with the team's performance and the final result. They have once again proved their dedication and professionalism to the game. In a tournament of this high level, players can sometimes be lax, but my players were always on their toes. We have to show the world that we respect every game, and I think they did that. In addition, the game provided valuable training for the young players, who were a joy to watch."
Speaking about the play of rising star Mark Giou, Maresca commented, "When it comes to Mark, we sometimes overlook his age. He's the same age as Archampong and Terek George, yet he's already been building up his game in tournaments. Since we took over, he has been outstanding and has taken his chances. He is aware of the need to maintain the right work ethic and be patient and focused in the competition from good strikers like Jacquesson and Nkunku."
On Chelsea's dominance in the league and whether they are aiming to win the title, Maresca responded, "We should focus on the next round. Now that we have been promoted, we have to be steady. If we are capable of winning the game, then we will move on. But it is not wise to envision a final or a title too soon. We still have five or six matches to play and must remain calm and focused."
Speaking about Cucurelia's progress this season, Maresca said, "I don't know about last season, but what I can say for sure is that Cucurelia now has a much better understanding of the position and the game. He has scored in the last two games and was excellent against Leicester City, both as an attacking midfielder and as a winger. He, like other players, is starting to understand where he should receive the ball and how to run the ball, which makes us very happy."
Talking about the future squad for the knockout stage, Maresca said, "It depends on the January transfer window to see if any players leave or join. Therefore, it is too early to discuss the line-up for the next stage and we need to wait and see how things develop."
On whether the knockout rounds starting in March is good for Chelsea to focus on the league, Maresca said, "It's hard to say. But now we may be able to focus more on the domestic competitions, which might be a good thing."
On the future of Dewsbury Hall, Maresca said, "I can't say for sure if he will stay after January. Not only him, but the future of the whole squad depends on the transfer window. When the window opens, anything can happen. But we are very happy with the way Hall has worked and performed."
If Dewsbury Hall is sent out on loan, Maresca doesn't think it would be too surprising: "Of course we don't want players to leave, but sometimes the problem lies more with the players themselves. If they say they want more game time and we can't meet their needs, then we will respect their decision. It's a matter of agreement between the club and the player. We are very happy with Hall but the future remains to be seen."
Finally, speaking about Murray Campbell's first-team debut, Maresca said, "It's never easy to play your first game, but he was pretty good tonight. We saw that he has great footwork and is good on defense. I thought he deserved the chance to play tonight and he did perform well."
