Every word Enzo Maresca said on Chelsea display, Mudryk goal, Felix double, Panathinaikos win
Enzo Maresca has just conducted his post-match press conference after Chelsea cruised to a 4-1 victory over Panathinaikos this evening.
Two goals from Joao Felix and one each from Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku were enough to send the Blues top of the Conference League league phase table. Maresca was understandably delighted with his team's performance in what is a tough stadium to come to and get a win.
You can read every word the Italian had to say below...
Thoughts on the performance and result?
"It was a very good performance. I think we struggled a little bit at the beginning of the game. And we adjusted; we struggled off the ball with our pressing, I think on the ball we were quite good - and then we made some adjustment and were much better.
"The most important thing, I always said, no matter how many players we change, you can see the identity of the team. We can do things better. The identity is quite clear, the way we play on the ball and the way we play off the ball."
The players were having a laser pen shone at them...
"Here in Greece, the laser belongs to the competition. I said yesterday, I played one year in Greece and it's something we prefer not, but it is what it is.
"No [I'm not angry]. It's almost impossible to control with 60,000 people and no laser, so it's something we don't like but it is what it is."
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Good moment for Mudryk. How happy were you for him?
"Very happy, not for me but for him. We as a staff, we spend a long, long time to help the players; not only Misha but the whole squad. Since we started, we are working with Misha and all the wingers to arrive in the box, into the position where Misha scored.
"He struggled to arrive there and now he is starting to arrive there. That is where we are going to score goals. It's for him, it's for Jadon [Sancho], it's for Noni [Madueke], it's for Pedro [Neto] - all of the wingers. They need to be in position because the ball is going to arrive in that position.
"We want the best for Misha. Since day one, we are trying to help Misha. Probably for him, he is one of the guys that the learning process is more slow compared to the rest but he is improving. I'm sure that slowly, slowly we will have Misha scoring more goals and being important for us."
Is it getting harder to make all these changes when your second string team is playing so well?
"No, to be honest, no. What we want is exactly what they are doing; taking the chance when we give them the chance. Now, tonight, once again they show that.
"If we want to be there and want to compete, we need all the players doing the right things. They are doing that and that is important for us. For sure, Sunday now we are going to make changes because we have more players but the important thing is they perform in the right way and the identity of the team continues to be the same."
How did Renato Veiga do at centre-back?
"I just said to Renato, he has played already as a centre-back, a full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder. He has already played four or five positions. One of my first press conferences, I said that the reason why I really like and love Chelsea is because many players can be versatile.
"Today, in my idea, if they can play different positions, then it is better for the team and especially for the players. Today, if you just play one position, I don't think it's enough. You need to learn more positions. Renato, Malo [Gusto], they are playing in different positions and they are doing well."
Chelsea are not a team of the Conference League but a Champions League team... Do you think you are going to give more attention to this competition?
"Can I ask a question to you? If we are a Champions League club, then why are we playing Conference League?"
Unfortunate situation...
"It's because last year, we qualified for the Europa League and then we play Conference. If we play Conference, then it's because in this moment we belong to the Conference. If next year or two years we play Champions League, then it is because we deserve to play Champions League.
"I think football always puts you where you deserve to be. If we play Conference then it's because we deserve it. The first target for us is the group stage and then we will go game by game and we will see. The important thing now is to finish the group stage well and qualify for the next round."