Enzo Maresca, Chelsea‘s manager, reflected on Joao Pedro’s dismissal during the clash with Benfica.
Chelsea demonstrated moments of resilience in managing a player deficit, successfully maintaining their lead after Joao Pedro received a red card to secure a win over Benfica.
On Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge, the Blues faced an Eagles squad led by their former coach, Jose Mourinho. The match was decided early when Richard Rios inadvertently scored an own goal in the 16th minute, handing Chelsea the advantage.
Maresca commends his squad’s progress
In their last three fixtures, Chelsea have found themselves playing with ten men. Previously, the team struggled to hold their ground, succumbing to 2-1 and 3-1 defeats against Manchester United and Brighton, respectively, following red cards.
Although Joao Pedro’s sending off occurred during the sixth minute of stoppage time, Chelsea managed to remain composed and did not concede further. Maresca highlighted this as a sign of growth and praised his players’ discipline.
Enzo Maresca (Credit: Imago)
“It’s encouraging to see our progress and that we can still secure victories with ten men,” Maresca commented regarding Joao Pedro’s red card. “I believe the second foul was not a clear contact, but the situation was risky. This season marks the beginning of our journey, and with each match, we continue to improve.”
Maresca commits to further development
Earlier reports from Pulse Sports revealed that Maresca acknowledged his errors following the red cards in the matches against Manchester United and Brighton. The Italian coach emphasized that he is learning from these experiences, and the triumph over Benfica represents positive momentum for the team.