ENZO MARESCA picked up his first win as Chelsea boss as the Blues defeated Swiss side Servette 2-0 in their European Conference League play-off first-leg clash at Stamford Bridge.
In a much improved performance in the second half, Christopher Nkunku and sub Noni Madueke gave Chelsea a commanding lead in the tie.
Blues boss Maresca made several changes from last weekend with summer signings Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tosin Adarabioyo ALL starting.
But Raheem Sterling did not feature as he edges closer to a Stamford Bridge exit.
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Chelsea ‘played with fire’ says Maresca
Maresca believes his side can learn from the way their win over Servette ended.
The Chelsea boss said: “I was a bit worried because in the last 10 minutes we played a little bit with fire because we could managed the game completely differently. It was good that we didn’t concede but we can learn.”
Ready to help Mudryk
Maresca has revealed he is keen to help Mudryk “change”, explaining: “This is the mission, this is Mudryk, not only tonight but since he joined the club.
“I think he had good moments but when he has the ball you don’t know if you’ll get one thing or another.
“It is consistency. We are going to try and help him to change. When he is in the final third it is is taking the right decision. Most of his mistakes are about the choice.”
Maresca on Guiu
Continuing his press conference, Maresca added: “The game first half was for Marc Guiu.
“There was a lot of space for him to drop and give us an extra man. He struggled a lit bit. The intention was to give him minutes but he had to behave as a midfielder.
“I told him he probably doesn’t like easy goals, he likes more difficult ones. He is the youngest in the squad, he works for the ball, runs a lot presses…he is going to score for sure.”
More from Maresca
Enzo Maresca has also called for consistency from goalscorer Noni Madueke.
He said: “Noni is a player I like. He is doing well but the thing he has to improve is consistency every day and work hard and then he will get minutes for sure.”
Maresca on Palmer knock
Cole Palmer appeared to be wincing as he left the pitch, with Enzo Maresca revealing he “looks fine” despite the scare.
The Chelsea boss explained: “Cole felt something but he looks fine. Hopefully it is no problem and he can be available for Sunday’s game.
“We are learning how to manage the game. Keeping the ball is the correct intention at 2-0 up but where is not good, in our half.
“We need to do the same on the opposite side. It was important to win the game with nine changes. There were many good things.”
FT: Chelsea 2-0 Servette
Chelsea will take a 2-0 lead to Switzerland for their Conference League play-off second leg next week.
Goals from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke helped them past Servette at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 2-0 Servette – yellow card
90+2. Dewsbury-Hall goes into the book for a clumsy foul.
Chelsea 2-0 Servette
90. Into six minutes of added time here.
Chelsea 2-0 Servette
86. Servette strike the crossbar as Chelsea receive a huge let off.
Ouattara is allowed to run through the midfield before taking aim from around 20 yards, with his effort deflected onto the woodwork.
Chelsea 2-0 Servette – Chelsea substitution
84. Maresca makes his final change as captain Caicedo comes off to be replaced by Romeo Lavia in midfield.
Chelsea 2-0 Servette
81. Jorgensen is forced into action as Gusto passes the ball straight to Guillemenot on the edge of the box.
The Chelsea keeper gets down well to his right to push the ball away.
Chelsea 2-0 Servette – Chelsea substitution
78. Axel Disasi is withdrawn in place of Malo Gusto for Chelsea’s fourth change of the night.
GOAL Chelsea 2-0 Servette
76. That should be the match for Chelsea as Madueke runs onto a precise pass from Fernandez before lashing the ball into the back of the net.
Chelsea 1-0 Servette – Servette substitutions
69. First changes for the visitors as Miroslav Stevanovic and Enzo Crivelli are replaced by Alexis Antunes and Jeremy Guillemenot.
Chelsea 1-0 Servette
66. After a frantic start to the second half, the match has settled down again.
Chelsea remain on top but Servette are offering little space in behind for the home side to exploit.
Chelsea 1-0 Servette – Chelsea substitutions
57. It’s a triple change for Chelsea as Neto, Guiu and Nkunku all leave the pitch.
Replacing them are Noni Madueke, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer.
Chelsea 1-0 Servette
51. It really should be 2-0. Frick loses the ball to Guiu on the edge of the box, to give the Chelsea forward an open goal.
However, he scuffs his first effort to allow the goalkeeper to recover and save before getting two more bites at the cherry, which he also misses.
GOAL Chelsea 1-0 Servette
50. Nkunku picks himself up to smash the penalty past Frick, who dives the right way but cannot keep it out.
Chelsea 0-0 Servette – Chelsea Penalty
48. Servette lose the ball on the edge of the box and Nkunku is played in.
He knocks the ball past Frick, who takes him down to leave the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
KO: Chelsea 0-0 Servette
45. Guiu gets the action back underway for Chelsea.
HT: Chelsea 0-0 Servette
Chelsea showed glimpses of an attacking threat during the first half, with half chances for both Marc Guiu and Mykhailo Mudryk.
However, Servette also had good spells, with Filip Jorgensen forced into a save by Derek Kutesa.
HT: Chelsea 0-0 Servette
Referee Jeremie Pignard blows his whistle to end a quiet opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 0-0 Servette
45. Into one minute of added-time.
Chelsea 0-0 Servette
43. The match has fizzled out during the closing stages of this first half.
However, Chelsea fans are on their feet to applaud Cole Palmer as he warms up.
Chelsea 0-0 Servette
32. Chelsea are upping the tempo as they look to breakdown the Servette defence.
Neto cuts inside to shoot but his left-footed effort is straight at Frick.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
