Maresca urges realism amid Chelsea pleasure

Enzo Maresca continued to pour chilly water on his facet’s Premier League title aspirations, regardless of Chelsea shifting to inside two factors of Liverpool.

A 2-1 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday noticed the Blues reduce the hole on the prime, after Liverpool might solely draw with Fulham on Saturday.

Objectives from Marc Cucurella, who was despatched off after full-time, and Nicolas Jackson obtained the job achieved, however they have been made to carry on as Bryan Mbeumo grabbed one again for Brentford close to the tip.

Maresca has been adamant that his facet should not but prepared for a title battle, and regardless of a fifth straight league win, he nonetheless believes there are points for his gamers to iron out earlier than they will name themselves challengers, with Brentford’s late aim being a primary instance.

“It’s not about what number of video games we win, it’s about being sensible,” Maresca instructed BBC Sport.

“There are issues we now have to do higher. For those who see the aim we conceded it was a throw-in to us, 90 minutes.

“The crew which can be able to compete for [the title] use the ball in the fitting manner.”

Glorious kind within the #PL. #CFC | #CHEBRE pic.twitter.com/cV80vwxCUA

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 15, 2024

Chelsea had 26 photographs, getting eight on track, and Maresca feels they need to have put the consequence to mattress lengthy earlier than Mbeumo teed up a grandstand end.

He added: “Within the first half, we have been in charge of the sport. We might have scored extra targets.

“The second half besides the final 10 minutes the place we struggled, which is regular, we deserved to win the sport.”

Cucurella was given a second yellow card after the ultimate whistle for dissent and Maresca desires to see extra maturity from his facet going ahead.

“I didn’t see the second yellow card. The referee stated the second yellow card was for unhealthy angle. There are issues we are able to do higher,” he stated.

“I stated we now have many issues we are able to do higher and this [Cucurella’s red card] is certainly one of them.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, in the meantime, was pleased with what he noticed from his crew, who’ve picked up only one level on the highway all season.

The Dane instructed BBC Sport: “We performed an excellent sport right here. We have been unfortunate to not get a draw. Some massive probabilities we missed in the long run.

“We managed for the 90 minutes to go toe to toe with Chelsea, particularly within the second half. A draw would have been truthful.

“Chelsea are an excellent crew, effectively coached, excellent gamers.

“They’re taking part in with confidence and credit score to them for pushing us again within the first half. They’re proper up there within the title race. They’re excellent.

“For those who take a look at the efficiency at this time in opposition to a prime crew who will go proper to the tip of the season and attempt to win the title, the way in which they celebrated it was clear they revered us and we might simply have gotten one thing.”