Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca fired back at critics of his side’s 1-0 triumph against Leicester City, stating that getting wins in the Premier League is not as easy as it looks on a “PlayStation console”.
The Blues rose to fourth on the league table, thanks to Marc Cucurella’s strike in the second half.
However, Chelsea’s display against 19th placed Leicester was largely unaccepted by the fans, who booed the players off at halftime.
Maresca has previously defended his preferred possession style of play for his team as opposed to swift attacks under his tutelage — and his sentiments were no different following Sunday’s contest at Stamford Bridge.
“People have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play,” Maresca said.
“When a team creates the number of chances we created today you have to be happy. It’s not easy. Leicester until minute 83 were 0-0 against Arsenal.
“If you think football is just PlayStation and you win easy? No way. Every game is difficult. The way the players have done today is fantastic.
“Our Champions League target will be also with our fans to support us. When we play at home we need them behind the players.”
Cucurella’s goal was enough to help Chelsea climb two points above Manchester City in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.
But there was added frustration for the Italian manager when Cole Palmer’s first half penalty was saved by Mads Hermansen.
The England attacker, who was taken off in the second half having not trained for two days due to illness, has gone on an eight-match run without scoring.
“Yesterday he didn’t train,” added Maresca.
“During the night he didn’t feel well, but this morning he woke up and said to me ‘I want be on the pitch because I want to help this club to play Champions League.’
“In the last 48 hours he was very bad with fever and with this bad feeling. But this morning he asked to play and this shows that the players want to bring this club to where it belongs.”
