Maresca singles out returning Chelsea star for praise in win over Spurs: ‘We are a different team with him’ | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea are a “different team” when Nicolas Jackson is involved.

The striker returned to the Blues side for their 1-0 win over Tottenham following six weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal of the game as the Blues picked up a crucial win in the race for Champions League football.

And Maresca hailed the return of Jackson, telling Sky Sports: “This game belongs to the players. You can have the best idea but if you don’t have the players (it doesn’t matter).

“With Nico, we are a different team. He’s a threat in behind, off the ball he is pressing everyone so we are a different team with Nico.”

The victory sees Chelsea move back up to fourth with eight games remaining of the Premier League campaign and Maresca was encouraged by the performance from his side.

“The result is an important part because we are close to the end of the season,” he said.

“At the same time we try to achieve the result playing in the way we want to play. At some moments the team was very good, then we don’t work every day, we don’t like to finish the game like we did in the last five minutes. If we want to become an important team we need to win in a dirty way, ugly way and [I’m] quite happy.

“Overall, I think it was a very good performance, I think we deserved to win the game we created enough chances already in the first half to score. In the last 10 minutes I think the team showed effort, togetherness, spirit and it’s something that we need.

“If you measure on the result then for sure if we achieve Champions League is an important thing but from my point of view, I try to see how we improve day by day and I can see, since the first day, I think the team is getting better and better.”