Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has urged his club to find the right balance in the squad after a hard-earned 2–2 draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League at St James’ Park. The result came after Chelsea fought back from a two-goal deficit, but Maresca says the performance showed where improvements are still needed.
The Blues were second-best in the first half and went into the break 2–0 down after goals from Nick Woltemade for Newcastle. But Chelsea came out stronger after the interval, with Reece James scoring a free-kick to spark the comeback and João Pedro later grabbing the equaliser.
Maresca praised his players for their character and togetherness in turning the game around. He said fighting back from two goals down in such a tough atmosphere was something his squad should be proud of. Still, he made it clear that experience in the dressing room could help his young team handle hard games like this more calmly in future.
The Italian boss pointed out that Chelsea’s squad is quite young, and having older, more experienced players could help especially in difficult away matches. Maresca suggested this might be something the club should think about as the season goes on, without directly criticising anyone.
Despite being 2–0 down at half-time, Maresca said he still believed Chelsea could fight back, and that belief helped them earn a valuable point. He admitted the first half wasn’t good enough, but he praised the team’s mentality after the break, saying they deserved the draw given how they played in the second half.
The result leaves Chelsea in a competitive position in the Premier League as they head into the busy festive schedule. Maresca knows there is still work to do, but he says he is happy with the spirit and commitment his players showed.
Fans and pundits will be watching closely to see if the club responds to Maresca’s call for balance, bringing in the right mix of youth and experience to help Chelsea push on this season.
