Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has sent a strong message to rival teams as the blues continue their impressive form with a 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow
Maresca made 11 changes to his starting XI but that did not stop the team from playing quality football. Christopher Nkunku scored an hat trick while there was a first Chelsea goal for Pedro Neto, with goalkeeper Paul Farman scoring an unfortunate own goal.
Speaking after the match, Maresca noted that he challenged his Chelsea second-string players to show ‘we are men’ before their victory.
‘I asked them to show how serious we are, to send a message that yes we are young, but we are men, we are serious and we want to compete,’ said Maresca.
‘We made many changes but the idea from the team was exactly the same. This has to be one of our targets – no matter who is going to play, it’s important that the identity of the team is always there.
‘These kinds of game, I’m always worried. They are tricky games and football is full of them, where you can underestimate the other team. Tonight the performance was very good and we showed how serious we are.’
Chelsea were three goals up and out of sight inside half an hour with Joao Felix the ring leader in an overwhelming first-half attacking display.
He had a crucial hand in his side’s third goal, striking the post with a free-kick before the ball bounced in off Farman, that after Nkunku had scored twice in the first 18 minutes.
Nkunku went on to complete his first Chelsea hat-trick in the second half with his side’s fifth goal after Neto had tapped in from Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross.
Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring Chelsea’s team’s fifth goal, and completing his hattrick (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Maresca emphasised the importance of keeping his back-up players ready to step in should injuries strike later in the season.
‘You can have different kinds of problems,’ he said.
‘At the moment we all available expect for Romeo (Lavia) and Reece (James). If we have a chance we try to share minutes with all of them.
‘I’m happy for Pedro, Christo, Joao; for all of them. They all deserve to play from the start in the Premier League. They’re not playing in this moment, but the way they take the chances when we give them is fantastic, no matter if it’s five minutes or 45 minutes or 90 minutes, they are all ready.’
The game was also notable for the return of Ben Chilwell, on as a half-time substitute to a raucous welcome from home fans five weeks after being told by Maresca he had no future at the club.
