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Latest from Enzo Maresca's Chelsea news conference Blues boss has "nothing to add" after being asked about Saturday's "worst 48 hours" comment Premier League reaction, including Sunderland's derby win St Mirren beat struggling Celtic to lift Scottish League Cup Aston Villa notch up 15 wins in 17 matches Frank under pressure as Spurs lose heavily at Forest Click 'Get Involved' to have your say Craig Nelson, Emma Smith & Holly Bacon Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on being tagged as favourites: "These are the worst games. Football is full of these kinds of games where the favourite one, they can lose. That's why we need to pay attention, that's why the focus has to be on Cardiff. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was also keen to stress how dangerous an opponent League One leaders Cardiff City are: "We need to move forward because tomorrow we have Cardiff. A dangerous game, a tricky game, so we need to have attention. " And he stressed that, despite his previous comments, he is enjoying this season: "Absolutely, it's fantastic. I said also last week, no matter if we win or we lose, whether we are in a good moment or a bad moment, it's a fantastic opportunity because you can learn always.

I love to learn and I am very happy with that. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed Cole Palmer won't play against Cardiff: "Cole is one of the players that deserves to be protected and he is not in this moment available to play two games in three days. " Click the 'Get Involved' tab on this page I think Maresca's comment was at the media & fans. It was a very quick head shake when asked if it was the owners. Then he realised he couldn't say the fans as he's already not that popular, or the media as he'd be crucified by them as well. Kev, London Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy who he worked with at Manchester City: "He is doing a great job. They are top of the league, they are playing nice football and winning games. We need to pay attention and we need to be careful because again, we can achieve something important. That is the third semi-final in 18 months. " Click the 'Get Involved' tab on this page Being fair, Maresca was thrown in at the deep end when he was offered the top job at Chelsea. He’d have been better off staying & continuing to grow with Leicester. Chelsea fans are growing increasingly impatient with him. If I were in his shoes, I’d resign for a smaller club Mike, London Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca started to show signs of losing his temper after repeatedly being asked whether he felt it was the right time to make his comments, after the Everton win, about his "worst 48 hours": "I can speak Italian, which is my language, French very well, Spanish very well and English more or less. But I think when I want to say something I am quite clear. "I already spoke after the game, I don't need to add more. "If you want, I can try in Italian, Spanish, French so you are all aware. It's done, it's finished. It was after the game. I said after the game, now it's focus on Cardiff and [reaching] a third semi-final [in the EFL Cup] in 18 months. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was pressed on whether Chelsea supporters deserve an explanation, he said: "I said after the game that I love [the] Chelsea support. They deserve the best and again I have nothing to add. " On whether he is happy as Chelsea head coach: "Absolutely yes. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on the comments he made on Saturday: "I already spoke about that and I don't have nothing to add. It's Cardiff tomorrow, please. I already spoke about that and I think I was quite clear. No more than that. " More from Maresca: "I respect your opinion and I respect people's opinion but again I have nothing to add. My focus is on tomorrow's game and that we can achieve the third semi-final in 18 months since I joined the club. " Cardiff City v Chelsea (Tue, 20. 00 GMT) Dafydd Pritchard BBC Sport Wales There is a palpable sense of positivity around Cardiff City this season, four points clear at the top of League One and playing attractive football with a team packed full of local young players. That joy is at odds with the misery of recent years, with last season’s relegation from the Championship following several campaigns of dismal underachievement. Now the Bluebirds have a chance to test themselves against Club World Cup champions Chelsea in tomorrow night’s EFL Cup quarter-final. “I think the anticipation for the game since the draw was made has been evident everywhere we've been, ” said Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy. “Luckily, we've tried to detach ourselves from that as much as possible while focusing on the league campaign. “But now that it's here, I think the build-up to the game is going to be incredibly exciting for everyone. “I think for the players and myself, we still want to show ourselves in the best light and give a good account of ourselves and compete against the team who are the Club World Cup champions. ” Cardiff City v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Cardiff City's last win over Chelsea came in the League Cup third round in October 1986. Defender Nick Platnauer scored a second-half double to cancel out Keith Jones' penalty as the Bluebirds won 2-1 at Ninian Park. There was to be no dream cup run for Cardiff though - they went on to be knocked out by Shrewsbury Town in the next round. Chelsea have since won all five of their matches against Cardiff. They beat them 4-1 in the fifth round of the 2009-10 FA Cup, on their way to lifting the trophy. And claimed victories in all four of their matches in the Premier League - in 2013-14 and 2018-19. Cardiff City v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Cardiff City have reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the first time since they lost the 2012 final to Liverpool on penalties. They are hoping to win the competition for the first time in their history. Chelsea, meanwhile, are aiming to lift the trophy for a sixth time. They last won the League Cup in 2015, beating Tottenham in the final. The Blues have since lost in three finals - against Manchester City in 2019 and twice against Liverpool in 2022 and 2024. Chelsea also won the League Cup in 2007, 2005, 1998 and 1965. Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is pressed about his "worst 48 hours" comments. "We're in an era where people say what they think, I respect your opinion, no problem. We are in a moment where people can say what they think. I don't have anything to add. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Enzo Maresca has said midfielder Cole Palmer will not feature against Cardiff, after the Chelsea star returned from injury recently. Then when asked if he is happy at Chelsea, Maresca replies: "Absolutely, yes. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is asked about his "worst 48 hours" comments. "I already spoke about that and I don't have anything to add. It is Cardiff tomorrow please. " We will have full Maresca quotes shortly. This video can not be played Enzo Maresca's Chelsea won 2-0 over Everton Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer said: "He wants us and others to talk about that. "There's no doubt about it, he's directing that at the board or the owners. My guess is he doesn't feel he's getting the protection, after the defeat in midweek, and that hurts him. "Chelsea are a very different club now to 15 or 20 years ago in terms of who they buy, the players they want to develop. It is difficult to compete with the very best when you are doing that. But the big picture, I think he's doing a good job. " Danny Murphy added: "Football is ruthless. These are multi-billionaire owners. If they feel their manager is talking directly to them through the press, it's not going to end well for him. " Cardiff v Chelsea (Tue, 20: 00 GMT) Chelsea The Blues could be the first side to book their place in the League Cup semi-finals, with the other three ties taking place later this week and next. Chelsea's route to the quarter-finals: Kick off times 20: 00 GMT unless stated Carabao Cup Tuesday, 16 December Cardiff v Chelsea Wednesday, 17 December Man City v Brentford (19: 30) Newcastle v Fulham (20: 15) Tuesday, 23 December Arsenal v Crystal Palace Chelsea Saturday's cryptic comments were not the first time Enzo Maresca has taken an unusual stance when speaking to the media. Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport Chelsea reporter It was not clear exactly who or what Enzo Maresca was referring to in his cryptic comments, but it seemed obvious he was looking to send a message. In the previous 48 hours, Chelsea had returned from his native Italy after defeat in Bergamo to Atalanta, held a single training session at Cobham, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared relaxed and ended a four-game winless run by beating Everton. It was clear from Maresca's regular news conferences that he believed his tenure at Stamford Bridge had been a success so far. He was proud to have won the Club World Cup and Conference League while qualifying for the Champions League in his first season. There had been mixed messaging over whether the latter was a target before the campaign, but it increasingly became a club objective after Chelsea made such a positive start under his leadership. It meant Maresca ended last season ahead of schedule while delivering on the project. He had still not lost more than two league games in a row. It is clear, therefore, that Maresca has felt exposed by criticism while managing the youngest squad in the Premier League. He has also been without Cole Palmer for most of this season, Moises Caicedo for several matches and Levi Colwill for the entirety of the campaign - all regarded as among Chelsea's best players in their positions. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.