Enzo Maresca singles out the player who makes Chelsea a “different team”

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson returned from two months out with a hamstring strain to lead the Blues forward line in the narrow win against Tottenham at Stamford Brudge

Enzo Maresca has claimed Chelsea are a “different team” with Nicolas Jackson before another London derby at Brentford on Sunday. The Senegal striker returned from two months out with a hamstring strain to hit the post in the opening minute against Tottenham – and his pace terrorised the high Spurs defence.

Cole Palmer provided an assist on his return for Enzo Fernandez to score the winner to lift the Blues back into the top four. But the Chelsea manager said his £35m forward – who last scored against Brentford back in December – had been the main man.

“Nico for us, he’s an important player because he’s a threat,” said the Italian. “He’s a threat for the defensive line. Off the ball, he’s pressing everyone. For sure with Nico we are a different team.”

Starting at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, Chelsea have potentially 13 games this season as they seek the double of Champions League qualification and Europa Conference League success.

Palmer returned from missing the Arsenal defeat and England duty to provide only his second Premier League assist of the year but he extended his goal drought to 11 games.

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“I think Cole Palmer’s performance was very similar to the rest of the performance,” Maresca claimed. “The only difference is that in the previous performance, he didn’t score, he didn’t assist. And because he’s a top player, and probably the best player we have, every time he didn’t score or didn’t assist, it’s news.

“We cannot rely on Cole for every game. We cannot expect every game for him to score or assist. And tonight the assist for Enzo was top assist. Enzo was in the right position. Very happy for him.”

Fernandez has scored in consecutive games – and seven times since November – after also netting in the World Cup qualifier against Brazil last month.

“Since we started, Enzo is improving a lot,” Maresca added. “His understanding of the game is completely different now. He knows where he has to stay, he knows where he has to arrive in the box.

“And I think most of the goals he scored this season with us is because he was in the right position, even with the international team. The goal was more or less similar. So we are very happy with the way Enzo is improving.”

Chelsea will still be without Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia against a more physical Bees side who were beaten 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. “If I’m not wrong, I think in the first leg both of them were injured,” Maresca added. “We did quite well.”

Chelsea cut Liverpool ’s lead at the top two only two points with that December win but Maresca claimed fourth place – now back ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle – was a more accurate reflection of his side’s status.

“Now the target is to try to finish where we have been all season,” said the Blues manager. “Because I think all season, probably the first five, six months, because we were second, probably the expectation changed a little bit. But I think overall, all season we have been top four, top five. We’re going to try our best to finish there.”

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