Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he is happy at the club following a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City that sent the Blues into the Carabao Cup semi-finals and came amid scrutiny of his relationship with fans and the club hierarchy. The win, sealed by goals from Pedro Neto and a brace from Alejandro Garnacho, marked a strong response from Chelsea after recent mixed results and saw supporters serenade Maresca, chanting his name as he acknowledged the travelling fans at full-time.
After a challenging week that began with a 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton — during which Maresca described the preceding 48 hours as “the worst since I joined the club” due to a perceived lack of support — the Italian was keen to stress his contentment with life at Stamford Bridge following the Cardiff win. Asked about his happiness at Chelsea, Maresca emphasised that he has “always been happy since day one” and reiterated his focus on preparing for future matches rather than dwelling on off-field speculation.
“My message remains the same — I’m happy, as I always have been,” Maresca said after the match, noting his appreciation for the fans who have supported the team through highs and lows. He pointed out that supporters naturally express frustration when results dip, but insisted that overall backing from the Chelsea fanbase has been strong and important for the squad.
The context of Maresca’s comments has been shaped by a string of results that left Chelsea with questions to answer, including a Champions League defeat and a less consistent run of league form. However, the Carabao Cup victory offered a clear sign of progress. Chelsea will now face Newcastle United in the semi-final, with Maresca insisting his only conversations following the Everton match were about preparing for Cardiff and, now, their next opponents.
On the pitch at Cardiff City Stadium, Chelsea showed resilience. Substitute Garnacho opened the scoring and later sealed the win with another goal, while Neto’s strike in the second half restored Chelsea’s lead after Cardiff had briefly levelled through a David Turnbull header. The result highlighted not just the impact of Chelsea’s bench but also the team’s depth and ability to compete on multiple fronts.
With the Blues sitting fourth in the Premier League and still competing in multiple competitions, Maresca’s stance on his job and his relationship with the club will remain in focus. But after the Cardiff win, his message was clear: he is committed to the project at Chelsea, appreciative of supporter passion, and confident in his squad as they pursue further success this season.
