Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, expressed his satisfaction after securing a hard-fought 2-0 triumph over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. The visitors took charge with a diving header from Pedro Neto in the 37th minute, before Enzo Fernandez sealed the victory with a late goal, propelling the Blues to second in the Premier League standings. They now trail leaders Arsenal by a mere three points, with the Gunners set to face off against their North London rivals, Tottenham, on Sunday.
Chelsea demonstrated superior play for the majority of the encounter, suffocating Burnley’s attacking efforts and extending their win streak to three matches under Maresca’s leadership. Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Maresca remarked, “I didn’t favour this type of victory, because it’s always a grind. It’s tough after the international break, especially with a 12:30 kick-off away at Burnley. But the way we competed leaves me very content.”
“It’s a significant achievement to come here and keep a clean sheet. Although it’s normal to concede a few opportunities, Burnley only crafted one notable chance. In contrast, we created multiple openings throughout the game.”
Discussing Reece James’ substitution at half-time, Maresca explained, “We had pre-planned for Reece to play just 45 minutes. Maintaining our momentum post-international break was vital. Now, we’ll look to replenish our energy ahead of Tuesday’s challenge.”
Former Premier League stalwart Ashley Williams, however, harboured doubts regarding Chelsea’s title credentials this season. “I don’t believe Chelsea are quite ready to sustain a title challenge throughout the season just yet,” Williams opined on BBC’s Final Score. “Arsenal have built something robust over recent years with the depth and managerial experience that currently outpaces Chelsea.”
Forward Pedro Neto, pivotal in the victory, shared his relief in securing the win prior to substantial fixtures against Barcelona and Arsenal. “Claiming victory away in such a challenging venue is gratifying,” Neto told TNT Sports. “We showed the right attitude and kept a clean sheet, so the team’s thrilled with the outcome.”
As Chelsea prepare to face tougher adversaries, Neto added, “It’s beneficial to regroup after the international pause. We’re eager for the forthcoming matches—these are the types of contests that test our mettle. Turf Moor presented a stern test, yet we’re poised for the challenges ahead.”