Chelsea managed to get through to the next round of the Carabao Cup, but not as comfortably as Enzo Maresca would have liked.
It was as poor a first-half showing as we’ve seen from Chelsea this season.
League One side Lincoln City were the better team up until the break, taking the lead and posing far more threat to goal.
The second half was better, with the Blues notching two quick goals before seeing out the remainder of the tie.
- READ MORE: Enzo Maresca reveals what happened in Chelsea’s dressing room after Robert Sanchez’s sending off
Fans are raving about Tyrique George’s performance, but Enzo Maresca praised another starring Chelsea man in his post-match press conference.
Enzo Maresca gives Facundo Buonanotte his flowers after first Chelsea goal
There wasn’t too much for Maresca to be happy about following this one, but Facundo Buonanotte getting on the scoresheet for the first time is a definite positive. Football London have his quotes.
When asked about the Argentine’s performance, Maresca responded: “Buonanotte was very good. We all struggled in the first-half and in the second-half we were better.”
He hit the nail on the head with that one.
Chelsea were lethargic before the break, looking like the lesser side. Thankfully, Maresca’s half-time speech gave them the boost they needed.
On whether some heated words were exchanged, he says: “Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely. No, because we prepared the game thinking exactly in the way it went in the first half, and sometimes it’s not about desire, it’s about winning the second ball, but it’s also about experience.”
Maresca says Chelsea were lucky with timing
The atmosphere at the Lincoln ground was getting rowdy. The home support were leading the World Champions, and excitement was growing.
George’s wonder strike was exactly what Chelsea needed at that moment.
As Maresca puts it: “Second-half, half-time, we changed something tactically that I think has been important.
“Jorrel [Hato] was playing in a different position compared to the first-half. I think we were also lucky that we scored immediately in the second half, but the structure, the shape of the team between first half and second half was completely different, and that probably helped a little bit.”
Chelsea can put this game behind them and turn attention to the weekend, when they face Brighton. The Seagulls were much more convincing in their clash with Barnsley, winning 6-0.
Roll on the weekend…
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
