Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca urges fans to trust him, saying the team is improving under his leadership.
The 45-year-old Italian saw his team jealous to several fans in a game that eventually returned to pull back 2-2 when he lost at home to Ipswich on Sunday.
After the game, the coach accused the supporters of creating an environment that forced the team to lose their way – amid his tactics, his style of play, and his claim to play from behind.
When asked if he trusts his football to entertain Chelsea fans, Maresca said: “I can’t style another way.
“message [is] that [the] fan [behind us] We are a better team. As a team, we fully understand that we have to attract fans. That’s something I couldn’t do on Sunday, especially for 20 or 25 minutes. It also comes down to us that it is enough to attract fans. ”
One of Chelsea’s pre-season goals was to compete in the Champions League, but in Sunday’s draw the club dropped to sixth place at the Premier League table.
With a top five finish required to reach the top competition in Europe, Maresca has tried to defend his record further as Chelsea manager so far, saying, “I think we’ve proved this season. [that we are progressing] Even if it’s difficult to see from outside.
“In the last two years, Chelsea have been in the top four. This season, we have been in the top four for most of the season. I don’t know why – I wasn’t here last season or two years ago – this season I haven’t judged those seasons.
“But I think fans have to trust what we, our team and our club are doing now, because if Chelsea hasn’t been in the top four over the last two seasons, then this season, Chelsea was in the top four for most of the year.
“For me, is that enough? No, because I want to fight for the title, and for the Premier League and the Champions League.”
Chelsea’s next chance to impress fans will be the first round of the UEFA Conference League against Stamford Bridge’s Legia Warsaw.
“We can reach the European semi-finals. Yes, it’s not the Champions League, but it’s still a European competition. It’s clear that the direction and style are the right ones,” Maresca added.
“Before Ipswich, we were the third best defender and the fourth or fifth best attacker. After Ipswich, we’re upset and we’ll try to win more games to get to the Champions League spot.”
Fan jeers and defender Malo Gist added:
