Burnley vs Chelsea: He was excellent - Maresca praises rising star

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says his side showed maturity and tactical intelligence as they defeated Burnley 2–0 on Saturday to move up to second place in the Premier League.

Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández sealed the win, with the Blues securing another strong away result in what Maresca described as a “difficult” post-international-break fixture.

Addressing reporters after the match, Maresca admitted that the conditions were far from ideal for a smooth performance.

He said, “It was a tough game for many reasons, early kick-off, the international break, and playing away at Burnley. This pitch is always tricky.

“But the players competed very well. We kept a clean sheet, they barely created chances in the second half, and overall we fully deserved the win.”

The Chelsea boss surprised many by naming his first Premier League lineup without Moises Caicedo.

When asked about the decision, he joked, “I won’t do it again, it’s the last time!”

But Maresca used the opportunity to highlight the impressive performance of Andrey Santos, who stepped into the deep midfield role seamlessly.

“Andrey was excellent. That position is natural for him. With Moises usually playing there, we push Andrey slightly higher. But today he showed why that deeper role is his true strength,” Maresca said.

The coach also praised Jamie Gittens, calling his contribution “very important” as the squad continues to show depth and versatility.