Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed his delight following the Blues’ exhilarating 4-3 victory against rivals Tottenham Hotspur, acknowledging that his team has exceeded expectations this season.
The dramatic comeback saw Chelsea overturn a two-goal deficit, a feat that included a cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty from Cole Palmer, who continues to dazzle with his remarkable performances.
After the win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Maresca praised his squad’s resilience and improvement. “We are ahead of my expectation,” he said.
“In terms of how we play and the results, we’ve made significant strides.” However, the Italian tactician cautioned fans not to raise their hopes too high just yet, suggesting Chelsea still has a way to go before they seriously contend for the Premier League title.
Quipping about Marc Cucurella’s unfortunate slip that led to Spurs’ early goals, Maresca noted, “Arsenal, City, and Liverpool probably don’t slide like Cucurella did.”
Cole Palmer, just 22, was instrumental in the comeback, scoring a crucial penalty and providing an assist for Enzo Fernandez’s volley. His performance has drawn comparisons to Chelsea legends like Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard.
“He has probably done more than Zola already in his 18 months at the club,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
With 50 goal involvements (33 goals, 17 assists) in just 48 Premier League matches, Palmer is on track to become one of the club’s all-time greats. As Redknapp remarked, “Palmer’s move to Chelsea has been life-changing. The things he does on the ball are frightening.”
