In the 20th round of the Premier League, Chelsea played Crystal Palace to a 1-1 draw. After the match, Chelsea manager Maresca took questions from reporters at the press conference on the process of the match, the team's situation and personnel changes.
In-depth analysis of the results
Maresca admits that Chelsea's performance today was enough to win the game. From the start to the end, the team created numerous scoring chances, but failed to capitalize on them and fell short of victory. He emphasized that in the world of soccer, missed chances often bring back the suspense of the game, especially in front of an opponent like Crystal Palace.
Stability of the team's mentality
In the face of the team's failure to win four consecutive games, Maresca believes that this has not caused a major impact on the team's mentality. He believes that every team goes through a low point in the season and Chelsea is no exception. He emphasized that it is not about the standings, but about how to improve the team's performance. He believes that the team's performance today was quite good both with and without the ball, but they failed to convert their chances into goals.
Considerations for staffing adjustments
In response to the low number of personnel changes in recent matches, Maresca explained that there was no particular reason for this. He emphasized that personnel changes must be made based on clear reasons, such as a player's poor performance or lack of fitness. He revealed that Jacquesson and Sancho were replaced today because they looked fatigued in a high-pressure defense, while Giou and Maduekai were replaced to inject new energy.
Josh Archampong's debut
Talking about placing Josh Achampong in his first Premier League start, Maresca expressed his satisfaction. He believes Josh has the potential to be a top player for the club but needs the right growth path and the right timing. Today he proved his mettle but also needs to be more solid, work hard and wait for the next opportunity. Maresca emphasized that he has full trust in Josh, who has proven his worth even without considering reinforcements or transfers.
Strategies for preparing for the FA Cup and the league
In response to the upcoming FA Cup third round tie, Maresca sees it as an opportunity to rotate his squad. He revealed that this is the first time since September that the team has been given a full week of training so they can make the most of this time to prepare for the FA Cup and later get ready for the Premier League. He emphasized that the team needs to be consistent and ready for the upcoming matches.
Strategies to Improve Shooting Efficiency
Addressing the team's shooting efficiency, Maresca believes that creating chances is crucial. If chances are created, it means the team is doing the right things. What needs to be done next is to capitalize on those chances. He revealed that the team will increase the intensity in training to improve the players' shooting ability. At the same time, he admitted that this is an area where the team needs to improve, but also realized that the team is currently one of the better goal-scoring teams in the league.
Ravia's return outlook
On the comeback of Ravia, Maresca said that he expects him to feature in the next match, which will certainly energize the team.
Nikolai Jacobsson's Mindset Adjustment
Talking about Nikolai Jaksson's recent form, Maresca said that the striker sometimes takes all his chances and sometimes misses them. He emphasized that Jaksson had two or three great chances today, so he was always ready on the field. He hopes that Jaksson will be a bit luckier next time, but overall, he deserves credit for his performance today.
