Chelsea wins ‘huge’, says Maresca while targeting the top four

Chelsea’s victory at West Ham was a ‘huge’ result, said Enzo Maresca manager as the Blues returned to the Top Four Premier League.

Finni goal naked Jarrod Bowen had hammers forward at halftime, but Maresca made four changes and was rewarded when Pedro equalized.

Cole Palmer then hit a low strike rejected by Aaron Wan-Bissak to seal three big points for the hosts.

😁#Cfc | #Chewhu pic.twitter.com/8fybvgndv7

– Chelsea fc (@chelseafc) 3. February 2025

“That’s a huge result,” Maresca said. “It was a difficult game, especially mentally. It’s never easy when teams come here and wait and sit.

“You have to be patient. No space, you need to move the ball and wait for the right moment.

“We are there at the top four and hopefully we can be there until the end. Playing this type of game in February, where we are still important is a statement.”

Graham Potter first returned to Stamford Bridge from his release of Chelsea 2023.

His side impressed, with Bowen in excellent form on his return from injury.

“I thought the performance was really good,” Potter said.

“I thought we were tactically intelligent. We felt a little unhappy with the first goal, we thought there may have been a misdemeanor.

“Jarrod Bowen was fantastic, he led the team and it was the right performance of the captain. You see the players we have and there a spirit. We can be positive for the future.”