Maresca challenges Chelsea to react to Fulham blow
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called on his players to recover swiftly from their surprise 2-1 home defeat against Fulham as they aim to keep pace in the Premier League title race.
The loss at Stamford Bridge was Fulham’s first victory at the ground since 1979, and it followed a disappointing 0-0 draw against Everton. These results have left Chelsea seven points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
The Blues had been on an impressive five-match winning streak, putting them within two points of Liverpool. However, the recent setbacks have dented their momentum.
“We never thought we would win every game,” said Maresca. “We lost on August 18, and then two months later, and again two months after that. But the reality is not just to lose one game every two months. It’s about how we react and try to go again.”
The Italian manager, who has previously stated that his youthful squad is not yet ready to compete for the title, hopes to see a strong response when Chelsea face Ipswich Town on Monday.
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Squad Changes on the Horizon
Maresca is expected to rotate his squad during the busy festive period. Chelsea’s depth has been a key factor in their Europa Conference League campaign, where they cruised into the knockout stages without dropping a point.
“For sure we are going to change something,” he said. “After a game, you need to go again, no matter the result. Especially this month, when we’ve already played eight or nine games in 26 or 27 days. Now it’s important to recover energy and go again on Monday.”
One notable player in contention to return is England international Noni Madueke, who was surprisingly left out of the squad against Fulham. Earlier this season, Maresca had challenged Madueke to improve his training standards, and the player responded with a goal against Southampton shortly after being dropped for a previous match.
“I expect the same reaction this time, absolutely,” said Maresca.
As Chelsea prepare for their clash with Ipswich, Maresca’s focus remains on resilience and adaptability, urging his players to turn their recent setbacks into fuel for success.
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