Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca implored an more and more disillusioned fanbase to “belief” him and settle for his most popular model of play.
The Blues have been held to a disappointing 2-2 draw in opposition to relegation-scrapping Ipswich City on Sunday, prompting loads of dissent from a gaggle of supporters who’ve grown pissed off with the affected person, possession-based method Maresca calls for.
The divisive Italian coach has the backing of Chelsea’s house owners, however is unimpressed with the “atmosphere” created at Stamford Bridge throughout current matches. The west London outfit have received simply one in every of their final 4 Premier League matches – a London derby in opposition to Fifteenth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Sunday’s stalemate with Ipswich left Chelsea sixth within the desk, one level adrift of the highest 5 which is able to assure Champions League qualification. Maresca was eager to focus on this robust place when addressing the criticism he has obtained.
“Within the final two years, Chelsea has been high 4 zero instances. This season we’ve got been high 4 most of our season,” the Blues boss pointedly famous. “I used to be not right here final season, two years in the past. So I am not judging what’s occurred final 12 months or two years in the past. I am simply judging this season. And that is the rationale why I feel followers, they should belief the group, they should belief the membership, what we’re doing now.
“I feel it is fairly clear that the route is the suitable one. The model is the suitable one. Earlier than the Ipswich sport, we have been the third‑greatest defenders after Arsenal and Liverpool. And the third- or fourth‑greatest attacking. They’re numbers that present that the group is doing nicely.”
Chelsea supporters protested in opposition to the membership’s possession group on the finish of February and are starting to show their ire in direction of the group and touchline. “If followers complain as a result of after 4 minutes our keeper gave the ball away, if I’m one of many followers, I additionally complain,” Maresca admitted. “However generally additionally they complain with one thing that most likely they can not see, but it surely’s a deliberate sport.
“The followers, with us, they’ve been at all times good. Generally they aren’t pleased, however if you end up 0-2 at house in opposition to Ipswich and we’re making some errors, it is regular that they aren’t pleased.”
Malo Gusto shifted the onus onto the gamers. “[Fan frustrations] can occur, particularly the way in which we completed the primary half in opposition to Ipswich – they have been a bit upset, we are able to perceive that,” the right-back admitted.
“The factor for us it to attempt to get them behind us, attempt to give them again the will to help Chelsea and that’s what we’re going to do. For certain we’d like them, we’d like us as a group to indicate on the pitch we’re Chelsea and and right here to win every part and we are going to attempt to present that.”
Maresca has the prospect to get followers onside when his group host Legia Warsaw within the second leg of their Convention League quarter-final on Thursday.
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