Enzo Maresca lauded the character of his Chelsea squad following their Carabao Cup quarter-final win, stating that successfully navigating such “tricky” fixtures makes him “fall in love” with his players even more.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca expressed growing admiration for his players following their hard-fought 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup.
Despite a difficult first half where the Premier League side struggled against the League One leaders, Maresca was impressed by his team’s ability to navigate the potential upset.
The Italian noted that these high-pressure knockout fixtures often reveal the true character of a squad when facing motivated lower-league opposition.
Reflecting on the performance and the competitive nature of the cup tie, Maresca admitted his affection for the group has deepened.
“These are the kind of games I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are tricky games,” Maresca explained.
He praised their focus, noting that every season sees major clubs succumb to lower-tier intensity if they do not pay sufficient attention.
The victory secured Chelsea’s place in the semi-finals, marking a significant milestone in Maresca’s tenure. While he admitted the first half was difficult, the impact of his substitutes validated his tactical approach and squad depth.
The manager emphasized that the physical and mental effort required to subdue a “very intense” Cardiff side showed that his players are fully committed to the winning mentality he is establishing at Stamford Bridge.