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Enzo Maresca has expressed his gratitude to Chelsea supporters after they sang his name during Tuesday night’s 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the League Cup quarter-finals, a moment that came after what he described as a challenging few days at the club.
Chelsea booked their place in the semi-finals thanks to two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and another from Pedro Neto, after David Turnbull had briefly brought League One leaders Cardiff level. The contest proved more demanding than the scoreline suggested, but the result marked Chelsea’s third semi-final appearance in the space of 18 months and offered further signs of Maresca’s influence since his arrival from Leicester in 2024.
The win came at an important time for the Italian, who had admitted after Saturday’s 2-0 league victory over Everton that the preceding 48 hours had been his most difficult at Stamford Bridge, citing a lack of “support” from “many people”. Those remarks sparked speculation that he was directing frustration towards Chelsea’s co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, as well as sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
It had been suggested that Maresca was disappointed by the absence of public backing from the club’s hierarchy amid criticism of his squad rotation during a recent downturn in form. The Cardiff victory was only Chelsea’s second win in six matches across all competitions, adding to the pressure surrounding the team.
Despite that, Maresca received a warm reception from the travelling support, who chanted his name throughout the match. After the final whistle, he made a point of walking across the pitch to acknowledge the fans and later spoke warmly about their backing.
He said he was delighted to be heading into another semi-final, adding that it was something the supporters deserved. Maresca described the atmosphere as a special moment, saying he was always thankful, even acknowledging that frustration from fans during difficult spells was normal, while stressing that they had consistently stood by the team.
When asked whether he had spoken to Chelsea’s hierarchy since his comments following the Everton game, Maresca said he had not, explaining that his focus had immediately shifted to preparing for the Cardiff match. He reiterated that he had been happy at the club since his first day and insisted that nothing had changed in that respect.
The Chelsea head coach also appears to retain the full backing of his players, who responded with a determined performance despite his bold decision to make 11 changes to the starting line-up, including leaving England forward Cole Palmer out. Maresca was also without teenage winger Estevao, who will miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle due to a minor muscle issue.
Reflecting on the challenge posed by Cardiff, Maresca said these were the type of matches that strengthened his admiration for his squad, highlighting how easily teams can slip up in tricky cup ties. He added that every season sees higher-level sides knocked out by lower-league opposition, underlining the importance of focus and discipline in such encounters.
