Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has no regrets after being sent off for his wild celebration following his side’s impressive 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
Maresca was given his marching orders after running down the touchline to join in the celebrations at Stamford Bridge after Estevao Willian’s dramatic late winner.
In a match that was edging towards a one-all draw, Estevao popped up with a crucial winner. The Brazil international scored his first league goal for the club as he prodded home at the back post in the fifth minute of added time.
Maresca got caught up in the moment as he ran towards the corner flag to hug his players. Following the celebration, the Chelsea boss was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor for his second bookable offence of the evening.
Enzo Maresca is sent off after he joins in celebrations with Estêvão after he scores late winner to make it 2-1 during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
As a result, the Italian will serve a suspension when Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, 18 October, following the resumption of the Premier League after the international break.
But when speaking at the Trento Sports Festival, Maresca refused to be self-critical for letting his emotions get the better of him, insisting his celebration was an “instinctive” reaction to Chelsea securing a rare, late victory under his stewardship.
In quotes carried by Gianluca Di Marzio, Maresca told the festival: “It was a huge emotion (against Liverpool). It’s my second season at Chelsea and it was the first time we won at home in the last minute. The sending-off? (I’ve said) many times, football is passion, instinct. I probably didn’t have time to think. It was an instinctive reaction, but I think it was worth it.”
Enzo Maresca enjoyed the celebrations before being shown a red card. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Maresca also opened up about the pressure of managing Chelsea, a club who won every major honour available to them under Roman Abramovich before Todd Boehly reshaped the club after his takeover in 2022.
“It’s one of the most important clubs in the world,” Maresca continued. “In the last three or four years, for various reasons, it (Chelsea) has struggled. Having brought the club back to a great level is a great satisfaction. When I signed for Chelsea, I felt a bit of pressure of being the only Italian not to win here, but fortunately, that hasn’t been the case.”
Chelsea will return to action when they head to troubled Forest next weekend, before taking on Ajax in their next Champions League clash on Wednesday, 22 October.
