Enzo Maresca, the coach of Chelsea, had something to say to all the people who doubted his team after they won a crucial match against Nottingham Forest. This victory, with a score of 1-0, means Chelsea will be playing in the UEFA Champions League next season!
Levi Colwill scored the only goal of the game, helping Chelsea shake off their struggles with away games. This win allowed them to finish in fourth place, which is a big deal!
This is the first time Chelsea has made it to the Champions League since Thomas Tuchel was their coach and led them to third place in 2022. Maresca was proud of his players and had a lot to say about the doubters.
“I never doubted my players,” Maresca said after the game. “The doubts came from outside. People were saying we were too young and not good enough. They thought we needed other teams to lose for us to make it to the Champions League.”
He continued, “They said we couldn’t win at Forest because we lack experience. But guess what? They were all wrong!”
Maresca was clearly frustrated with the critics. “To all those who think they know everything, I say, ‘Forget you!’ The players worked really hard, and they deserve this win.”
This win is especially important because it marks Chelsea's return to one of the biggest competitions in Europe since the new owners, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, took over the club.
Maresca pointed out how far the team has come: “We were twelfth two seasons ago, sixth last season, and now we’re fourth with one of the youngest teams in the Premier League!”
He also mentioned that other big teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool struggled at the same place, but Chelsea managed to win. “It’s not easy, and the players showed how talented they are,” he said.
Maresca acknowledged that people often judge coaches based on their team's results. “If we hadn’t won today, many would have called this season a disaster,” he explained.
But he reassured everyone that he never felt insecure about his job. “I’m really happy for many reasons,” he said. “The players have been working hard since day one. Everyone—players, supporters, owners, and directors—are all on the same team.”
He concluded by saying, “The noise from critics outside was louder than what we felt inside the club.”
In the end, Chelsea's victory is a testament to their hard work and determination, and Maresca is proud of his team for proving the doubters wrong!