Chelsea players earn boss praise for mentality in derby win over West Ham United
Enzo Maresca highlighted the mentality his Chelsea players displayed in their 2-1 Premier League victory over West Ham on Monday night, having gone a goal down just before half-time.
The Blues were dealt a shock blow when Jarrod Bowen struck first for the visitors, before a scrappy Pedro Neto equaliser and an own goal for Aaron Wan-Bissaka secured Chelsea the three points.
The win was unconvincing for a side with Champions League aspirations, but was enough to take Chelsea above Manchester City and back into the top four.
Levi Colwill came under fire when his loose pass under pressure in his own defensive third was latched on to by Bowen in the 42nd minute. He curled home in his first start since a fractured foot injury at the end of December.
Chelsea hit back in the 54th minute through Neto, who fired a ball into the net amidst a goalmouth scramble to equalise.
The hosts found a winner 10 minutes later. Cole Palmer’s cross clipped Wan-Bissaka’s foot and looped over Alphonse Areola, although there was controversy as to whether the goal should have been ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
Maresca shook off comments about the victory being unconvincing, or even lucky.
“The important thing is the performance, ” said Maresca. “We completely deserved to win the game.
“I was very happy, especially because tonight’s game was the toughest game in terms of mentality. Teams come here and they just sit back and wait for our mistake. There is no space to attack, so you need to be patient.
“Even with that, in the first half we had four or five clear chances where unfortunately we missed the target, and then we conceded the goal from our mistake.
“This is the reason why I said you have to be mentally strong, because my message at half-time was don’t change anything, continue in the same way, because they cannot be so intense for 95 minutes.”
Maresca was also quick to downplay the severity of the defensive error from Colwill which handed West Ham their lead.
“Sometimes defensive mistakes happen,” Maresca told BBC Match of the Day. “A keeper mistake, a number nine misses the goal, that’s football. It happens. The important thing is to continue.”
Neto’s second-half introduction on the wing was a catalyst for Chelsea’s resurgence in the game, which he attributed to a positive group mentality instilled by Maresca.
“We kept to our plan, remained patient and got the goals to win the game,” said Neto. “In the end we could have scored even more goals to make it a bit more comfortable, but it was a fair win and we are really happy.
“The manager also says how it is a team game and we all came on in the second half to help the guys, and we’re all so happy to help us get the three points.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD