Enzo Maresca faced the media on Tuesday evening in the aftermath of Chelsea's 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The Blues rescued a point in the 95th minute courtesy of a Reece James free-kick. The club captain scored his first goal in well over two years to salvage something from the game after Chelsea threw away a one-goal lead they took early on.
Cole Palmer scored a beautiful goal to put the west Londoners ahead in the capital but the Cherries fought back through a Justin Kluivert penalty and a sumptuous strike from Antoine Semenyo not too long after. Here is every word head coach Maresca had to say on the match...
How happy are you for Reece James to have that moment?
"I am very happy for him. He deserved that after a difficult moment. It also gave us the point so I am happy for him and I am happy for us."
What did you make of the performance? It seemed you should have killed the game off in the first-half...
"It was probably one of our best first-halves of the season. The way we were playing on the ball and off the ball, the way we created so many chances, we had around 15 shots, and the first-half has to finish with a different score because at least 2-0 was what we deserved.
"Then in the second-half, after the penalty, we dropped a little bit and we probably need to understand the reason why. The feeling is like a little bit of a shame because when you play the way you played in the first-half, where we played really, really good, you need to be clinical."
Are you concerned we have seen this too often before? Where you play well and don’t control the game in the second-half?
"I am always concerned and I am always worried, even when we win. For sure, every game is different. Tonight after the goal and after we conceded the penalty, we changed and we dropped a little bit and those are the moments where you have to show even more your personality and your character because you have conceded.
"The game was 100% under control and we need to understand why we dropped after the penalty but I am worried always, but I am more worried when you don’t create and we don’t play well. When you create, probably, hopefully, we can be more lucky in the future."
Reece James has had such a tough last few months, and obviously before that, so how pleased are you for him?
"I am very pleased, especially for him. I am so happy for him that he had this moment and the target for him is to be fit until the end and for him to help us in the way we want to play."
Wednesday can see you fall out of the top four. How much of a concern for you is it if that happens?
"It can happen. I'm not worried if Newcastle win and they go ahead of us. I'm always worried even when we win. I'm more worried about how we can improve the team - this is the main target."
Every game is different but seems like there is a pattern of the performance dropping in the second-half? Is there a reason for it?
"Yeah, for sure it is one of the things we need to improve. Palace game in the second-half, we didn’t concede too much. Ipswich, in the second-half, after the second goal, we didn’t create many chances, but the one which is very clear is tonight.
"The way we were playing, there was only one team on the pitch in first-half and that was Chelsea. After the penalty was scored, it is not normal for the way we dropped so we need to understand the reason why and try to improve.
"I have no doubt for the players, they need to go through this kind of moment and live this moment and in the future, we are going to be better and better."
How do you improve starting games well and then dropping off? Do you need a striker? Or can Nicolas Jackson become that clinical striker?
"First of all, we analyse the game and when you create chances, sometimes you are more lucky. Sometimes you create one chance and you score one goal and sometimes you need to create ten chances to score one goal so it is a little bit about the moment in the season.
"At this moment, we struggle to score goals but we have not struggled to create chances in every game. Hopefully we can be more lucky in the future and we score goals."
Do you think David Brooks was lucky to not be sent off?
"I've said many times. For me, when there is no intention to take the ball, it's a red. They have to explain. If they give a yellow, then that means something has happened. How can they judge that it was not dangerous? You cannot judge that's not dangerous.
"The intention is just to go against Marc Cucurella. In my opinion, it's a red. Hopefully we can be more lucky with the referee in the future."
Is Reece James stepping up to the free-kick in stoppage time a sign of his leadership?
"For sure, it is something good to see but also with free-kicks, Reece can compare with Cole in terms of free-kicks because he is very good. We decided for Reece and he scored and we are all happy because at least we took a point."
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