Enzo Maresca explains why he didn’t face up to Chelsea fans who demanded sacking

Chelsea fans vented their fury at Enzo Maresca during their match at Fulham while they were trailing, only for the Blues to come from behind to win 2-1 thanks to Pedro Neto’s injury time winner

Enzo Maresca insisted his quick getaway at the final whistle was to let his Chelsea players enjoy their dramatic victory – rather than a pointed snub to the fans.

The Blues boss gave a brief handshake to his coaches and then disappeared down the tunnel, while his players wildly celebrated a win which could turn their season around.

“I was very happy because it is a nice feeling to win the game at the end,” said the Blues boss, whose relationship with his own supporters could best be described as prickly. “But the players deserved to celebrate with the fans, that is the reason why I left the pitch early. It was a nice moment for the players and the fans.”

Nor was Maresca in any mood to admit Pedro Neto’s magnificent injury time winner may have saved his team’s season.

The Italian clearly feels he has already delivered a triumph by guiding his team to the fringes of the Champions League places and anything more – like actual qualification – is a bonus.

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A stoney-faced Maresca added: “The goal from Pedro doesn’t change the season. I have said already, in the last three years we have never been in the Champions League spots. So, the goal doesn’t change it. It’s already a good season.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva was in no mood to concede anything, either. Their chance of making the top five has surely gone but Silva reckons Europa League or Conference League places are still within their grasp.

“We are playing finals every single week, so this is a missed opportunity,” said Silva. “But we have to be balanced in the way we analyse because there were lots of positives as well.

“It’s not the end, there is still plenty to fight for.”

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