September 21, 2024
By Okafor Joseph

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca hailed his side’s performance and expressed optimism about the club’s future after they comfortably outclassed West Ham United in a 3-0 victory on Saturday afternoon.

While Maresca’s tenure has already seen moments of brilliance—most notably the 6-2 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season—consistency in front of goal has been lacking for the Blues. However, their scintillating start at the London Stadium offered a glimpse of what might be to come, with forward Nicolas Jackson stealing the spotlight with two early goals.

Jackson’s brace was historic, marking the quickest by a Chelsea player in 19 years. The 23-year-old striker found the net twice in the opening moments of the game, as Chelsea capitalized on West Ham’s sluggish defense. Although the Hammers could have argued for a penalty in the first half, Chelsea’s dominance was unquestionable as they cruised to a 2-0 lead by halftime.

The second half started in equally dramatic fashion, with Jackson turning provider just 70 seconds in, setting up Cole Palmer for a clinical finish off the near post. From then on, the game was effectively in Chelsea’s hands, with Maresca’s men showing composure and control for the remainder of the contest.

Reflecting on the match, Maresca was full of praise for his squad’s commitment and growing chemistry, saying that the hard work since his appointment in July was beginning to bear fruit.

“The way the players are buying into the idea and the different style—that has been top,” Maresca told reporters, as quoted by football.london. “The way we are working off the ball, Nicolas and Cole’s performances have been top. Not only because they score, but because of the desire and understanding that this is what we need to build something important.”

Maresca also took a moment to address Jackson’s critics, many of whom have questioned the striker’s finishing ability despite his work ethic.

“Fantastic,” Maresca said of Jackson. “He is doing well, working hard off the ball. If a player misses chances, it doesn’t mean he isn’t playing well. It can happen.”

What’s Next for Chelsea?

Saturday’s victory was just the start of a busy 16-day period for the Blues, with five matches scheduled. Next up is an EFL Cup third-round tie against League Two side Barrow on Tuesday night, where Maresca is expected to rotate his squad. Key players like Wesley Fofana, Palmer, Jadon Sancho, and Jackson, who were all substituted by the 64th minute against West Ham, are likely to be rested.

Following that, Chelsea will host Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest in Premier League action, while also welcoming Belgian side Gent for their Europa Conference League clash.

Maresca’s sights are firmly set on building momentum, with the Blues eyeing a deep run in multiple competitions this season. As his squad continues to gel, the Italian coach remains hopeful that Chelsea can challenge for trophies once again.