Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was delighted, and defiant, as Chelsea won their final game of the season at Nottingham Forest to qualify for the Champions League.
Mission accomplished for Chelsea and their manager, who was under serious pressure in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea won 1-0 at Forest thanks to Levi Colwill’s goal early in the second half to finish fourth in the Premier League table as they returned to the Champions League after a two-season hiatus.
Below is the latest Enzo Maresca reaction from the City Ground, as he celebrated wildly at the final whistle with his players and staff.
Chelsea celebrate qualifying for the Champions League 🔵🙌🔥 #CFC pic.twitter.com/GnO9rnkboY
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) May 25, 2025
Enzo Maresca reaction
Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca said his players “deserved” to qualify for the Champions League.
“Today I think it has been fantastic. Top. Especially because the players deserve that. They deserve that for the way they’ve been working since day one. When you try to work in one way and most of the people from outside they think they were not good enough, I think it is a good answer for all of the season from the players,” Maresca said.
“When you join Chelsea you are under pressure to win every game,” Maresca added. “Everybody has a different way. I have my way to try to win games. For the players for sure there was pressure. I said everyone is thinking ‘they are young, they are not good enough’ but they showed how good they have been all season.”
The Italian manager was asked in his post-match press conference about what he would say to Chelsea’s critics: “In English I would say ‘F off’ to all of them.”
"The players deserved that" 👊
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 25, 2025
Enzo Maresca on Chelsea's win over Forest, earning them a place in the Champions League next season 👏 pic.twitter.com/cu453iFV3R
