Chelsea -Spits Nicolas Jackson returned from two months with a hamstring tribe to lead the blues in the narrow victory against Tottenham at Stamford Brudge
Enzo Maresca has claimed that Chelsea is a 'different team' with Nicolas Jackson for another London Derby in Brentford on Sunday. The Senegal striker returned from two months with a hamstring tribe to touch the post in the opening minute against Tottenham -and his pace terrorized the High Spurs defense.
Cole Palmer gave a help with his return for Enzo Fernandez to score the winner to lift the blues back in the top four. But the Chelsea manager said that his £ 35 million ahead – who last scored against Brentford in December – had been the most important man.
“Nico for us he is an important player because he is a threat,” said the Italian. “He is a threat to the line of defense. He presses everyone from the ball. With Nico we are definitely a different team.”
Starting in the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, Chelsea may have 13 games this season because they are looking for the double of Champions League qualification and the success of the Europa Conference League.
Palmer returned from missing the Arsenal -the defeat and the duty of England to only offer his second Premier League assist of the year, but he extended his goal drought to 11 games.
“I think the performance of Cole Palmer was very similar to the rest of the performance,” Maresca claimed. “The only difference is that he did not score in the previous performance, he did not help. And because he is a top player, and probably the best player we have, every time he did not score or did not help, the news is.
“We can't trust Cole for every game. We can't expect every game for him to score or help. And tonight the assist was for Enzo Tophulp. Enzo was in the right position. Very happy for him.”
Fernandez scored in successive competitions – and seven times since November – after he also put in the World Cup qualification match against Brazil last month.
“Since we started, Enzo has improved a lot,” Maresca added. “His understanding of the game is now completely different. He knows where to stay, he knows where to get into the box.
“And I think that most of the goals he scored with us this season is because he was in the right position, even with the international team. The goal was more or less similar. So we are very happy with the way Enzo improves.”
Chelsea will still be without Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia against a more physical bee side that was beaten 2-1 on Stamford Bridge. “If I don't miss it, I think they were both injured in the first stage,” Maresca added. “We did quite well.”
Chelsea cut the lead of Liverpool at the top two only two points with that victory of December, but Maresca claimed fourth place – now back for Manchester City and Newcastle – was a more accurate reflection of the status of his side.
“Now the goal is to try to end where we have been the entire season,” said the Blues Manager. “Because I think the entire season, probably the first five, six months, because we were second, probably the expectation changed a bit. But I think we are in general, the entire season top four, top five. We are going to do our best to end there.”
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