Coach Maresca made a surprising comment following Postecoglou's dismissal

Following the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest, Coach Enzo Maresca showed empathy towards Ange Postecoglou, who was suddenly dismissed by Nottingham after only 39 days in charge.

Although Chelsea secured a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest to enter the Premier League's top 4, Coach Enzo Maresca attracted attention with his candid remarks about tactical mistakes, squad issues, and especially his sympathy for Ange Postecoglou - who was sacked just 39 days after taking charge of Forest.

Chelsea had a shaky start at City Ground, struggling in the first half with several turnovers and poor coordination, which put them under heavy pressure from the home side. However, in the second half, Enzo Maresca’s players exploded with three quick goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto, and captain Reece James, sealing an easy 3-0 victory.

After the game, Enzo Maresca admitted he had “chosen the wrong” starting lineup. “I always give my best. Sometimes I make mistakes, sometimes I do. We knew Romeo couldn’t last the full 90 minutes, Moi as well. I left Moi on the bench, giving Garna a chance because he played very well against Liverpool. Marc Guiu was also trusted and responded with a positive performance,” the Italian coach shared.

When asked about Malo Gusto’s red card — Chelsea’s fifth this season — Maresca showed disappointment but still defended his player: “That’s something we can improve on. Getting a second yellow was unnecessary, but I understand Malo. He showed great desire, just a bit too eager. We will learn from this.”

Serving a suspension, Maresca had to watch the match from the stands. He described the feeling as “the most uncomfortable thing for a coach.” “I prefer being on the technical area. From up high, I saw the team play much better in the second half. The players showed excellent fighting spirit, especially in the final minutes when they encouraged each other to keep a clean sheet.”

At the end of the press conference, Maresca also expressed sympathy for Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed by Nottingham Forest just 39 days after taking the helm. “I haven’t spoken to Ange or met him, but I feel sorry for him. This profession is tough; if you don’t win, consequences come quickly. Any of us could find ourselves in that situation,” the Chelsea coach stated.

The win over Nottingham Forest extended Chelsea’s unbeaten streak to six games, but discipline and consistency remain major concerns for the team. For Enzo Maresca, the three points are a deserved reward, yet his post-match comments reveal his acute awareness of the pressure on a coaching position, where a bad run can cause everything to collapse in an instant, just like what happened to Ange Postecoglou.

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