Maresca relieved to snap winless streak as Chelsea bounce back versus Everton
Enzo Maresca was impressed by Chelsea's reaction as they returned to winning ways by beating Everton 2-0 on Saturday.
Enzo Maresca was impressed by the way his Chelsea players reacted to adversity after a 2-0 win over Everton ended their recent winless streak.
The Blues had not won their last four matches in all competitions, which included defeats to Leeds United and Atalanta.
But they ended their indifferent form at Stamford Bridge, with Cole Palmer's first goal since September putting them ahead. Having assisted that strike, right-back Malo Gusto then got Chelsea's second before half-time.
Everton did carry a threat, firing off 11 shots and amassing 1.03 expected goals (xG), though Chelsea fared better for both metrics with 17 attempts and 2.07 xG.
"I'm happy," Maresca told BBC Sport.
"It's important to win games after two or three where we didn't win. It's important for the players. We are happy.
"I think the reaction was good. The players want to win every game.
"Sometimes we struggle a little bit more, sometimes we are able to win the game. I think in this moment it was very important for the players to win the game."
Despite injuries biting at the heart of their defence, no side has kept more Premier League clean sheets than Chelsea this season, with eight.
Maresca hopes the current centre-half partnership of Trevor Chalobah and Wesley Fofana can continue their strong displays in the coming weeks, despite a busy schedule.
He said: "It's important they are both fit.
"It's important as well that the players behind them are ready when we need them."
David Moyes has now failed to win a league match at Stamford Bridge as a manager for the 21st time, equalling his most visits to a ground without a victory (also against Liverpool), but the Everton boss was encouraged by what he saw from his team.
He said to BBC Sport: "I thought there were some really good moments, we played really well today.
"We've played well away from home and today we played well. I know you can't say that when you lose 2-0, but today we did well.
"Maybe in the final third we needed it [a bit of luck], they were clinical in the one or two moments they got, we weren't as clinical when we got in on goal. That was the difference."
