‘Not winning is normal’: Enzo Maresca defends Chelsea style despite 1-1 draw to Palace

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has defended his side’s 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace, insisting “sometimes it is normal if you don’t win”.

The Premier League side splurged around £220million on new players this summer but seems to have not gotten their mojo on the pitch. Chelsea continued their mixed start to the season against Palace, drawing a blank after Eberechi Eze cancelled out Nicolas Jackson’s first half opener.

Chelsea were huge favourites for the game and created a number of clear-cut chances that they failed to convert. Noni Madueke twice went close in the first half before Jackson was denied by Dean Henderson in a 1v1 situation in stoppage time.

Despite the disappointing draw, Maresca was satisfied by the team’s performance and said they were heading in the right “direction”, adding that it was important to temper expectations given the transition period Chelsea find themselves in.

“We completely deserved to win the game with the amount of chances we had. Overall the performance was good. The direction is the correct one.

“Probably one thing that has to be clear, Chelsea three years ago won the Champions League but now it is not that kind of Chelsea so now sometimes if you don’t win it is normal.”

Maresca also shed light on an incident that happened during the match when Palace midfielder Will Hughes hauled down Cole Palmer while already on a yellow card, with the Italian coach refusing to criticise the referee but admitting “the game would change 11 v 10”.

“What can I say?” he added. “In that moment we were also 1-0 up and the game completely would change 11 v 10. The referee saw in different ways so now there is nothing I can do.

“Once they scored the game became up and down and when the game is up and down and especially against Palace, they are more dangerous than us. We had chances to win the game late on, we didn’t win and it is a shame but the performance was good.”

Chelsea will be eager to get back to winning ways after the international break when they next face Bournemouth away on September 14.