Maresca becomes derby idol for Chelsea after Juventus | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca’s solid start at Chelsea has been cemented by a 4-3 win over Tottenham in a London derby on Sunday, but the Italian tactician is no new to taking centre stage in games against clubs from the same city, as Juventus fans remember.

Enzo Maresca saw his Chelsea side recover from two goals down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, securing a massive 4-3 win that sent the Blues just four points below league leaders Liverpool.

The Italian tactician, who was appointed by Chelsea last summer, celebrated with his fans after the final whistle.

“We work every day for these kind of moments, celebrating with the fans,” he explained at a post-match press conference, as quoted by Football London.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Interim Head Coach of Manchester United, greets Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC at Old Trafford on November 03, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“For sure, tonight was a derby and the way we are in this moment, we are all happy. To share that moment is fantastic.

“We need our fans, home and away. I will tell them now in this moment that we need them against Brentford. It won’t be an easy game, so we need them to help and push us.”

Maresca seems to have turned things around at Chelsea, a club that has struggled for consistency over the last few years despite massive investments in the transfer market.

Their latest win over their city rivals was a massive achievement for their coach, who is no new to making headlines in derbies.

In fact, Maresca probably scored his most iconic goal as a footballer during a 2002 Turin derby between Juventus and Torino.

Maresca, a midfielder for the Old Lady then, netted a brilliant header from the edge of the box in the dying minutes and celebrated by mimicking the bull’s horns. His action infuriated the Granata, especially their striker Marco Ferrante, who had celebrated Torino’s goals in the same way.

Nevertheless, Maresca’s goal celebration remains one of the most iconic moments in the Turin derby’s history, making the ex-midfielder still an idol for Juventus fans.