“We’ve had nine months…” – Maresca shows frustration in response to another style question | OneFootball

Chelsea beat Tottenham 1-0 tonight, and what was very clear from early on was that they were trying a different tactic.

Enzo Maresca was also asked about this before the game, and was a little frustrated by it, pointing out that the reason for his team’s slow attacking play was the opposition they faced, who sat deep and made playing quick counters “impossible”.

“I’ve said many times, no matter who is playing, we want to be direct and quick when they press higher, but we cannot be direct and quick when they sit back,” he had said on Wednesday.

Enzo Maresca makes firm point about accusations of change of style

Enzo Maresca applauds the Chelsea fans.

He then took this frustration out a little on the journalists after the game when he was asked about his team’s move to a longer ball strategy in attack, pointing out how long he had been repeating his mantra that the style and the plan is opposition dependent:

“We already had nine months and until the day I will [leave Chelsea], I will tell you our game plan depends on the opposition. Tonight we used more balls in behind because of Tottenham, the way they defend.”

He’s got a point – but we don’t expect him to play long ball against the likes of Ipswich, just a faster and more dynamic version of what he’s producing in those games now.

Maresca also agreed that returning Nicolas Jackson had been a factor in changing how his team play:

“Nico is an important player, off the ball he is pressing everyone and for sure, with Nico, we are in a different team.”

That looked the biggest transformation tonight – Levi Colwill even mentioned Jackson by name as a key factor in Chelsea’s changing style in his own interview post game.