Maresca 'falling more in love' with Chelsea squad

Enzo Maresca claimed he is perfectly happy at Chelsea and is "falling more in love" with his squad after their EFL Cup win over Cardiff City.

Chelsea beat Cardiff 3-1 on Tuesday to book their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals.

That victory came on the back of Maresca saying, after Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, that he had endured his toughest 48 hours as Blues coach.

He said that the two days prior to the clash with Everton were "the worst since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team".

Chelsea had gone on a four-game winless streak before beating the Toffees.

But in the wake of a victory in south Wales, Maresca said: "I said many times in many press conferences, the support, they have always been there, knowing that any supporters in the world when you don't win, they are not happy.

"So in some moments when you don't win games, they have not been happy, but it's normal. But overall, the fans have always been there.

"I just said that these are the kind of games that I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are tricky games."

Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca added: "Tonight the focus has to be that we reached the semi-final, the support from fans has always been there.

"We are going in the right direction, everything I do is because I want the best for everyone – the fans, players, everyone."

Alejandro Garnacho scored twice against Cardiff, with Pedro Neto also on target.

However, Chelsea were without forward Estevao, with Maresca confirming the Brazil international has sustained an injury that will keep him out of this weekend's Premier League game against Newcastle United.

"Estevao has a small muscular problem, a light injury," Maresca said, as quoted by Chelsea's official website.

"He won’t be available for Newcastle but we will see for the next one. I think he can be available for the next game [against Aston Villa on December 27]."