Maresca tells critics to “f*** off” after Chelsea prove doubters wrong by qualifying for Champions Leauge | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea team have qualified for the Champions League after a final day win over Nottingham Forest.

The Blues squeezed out a nervy 1-0 win and after the game the coach spoke to the media with an understandably defiant tone. He’s had a lot of critics this season (us included) and this was his chance to turn things around on them after completing his season objectives.

Young Chelsea make Champions League – and Maresca is able to celebrate

Chelsea celebrate Champions League qualification as a group. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

His team were a record breaking young group – with this season now in the record books, it was confirmed that this was the youngest squad to ever complete a full season. The coach was asked about whether he was proud of his young group, but denied he had ever had any doubts that his group would get it done, despite a wobble in the second half of the season:

“I didn’t have any doubt about the players. The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League,” the manager said.

“They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have the answer to everything. So in English, how you say? F off to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.”

Maresca can enjoy his moment of peace before stress starts again

Maresca can and should enjoy his moment. In the end his team got 5 wins from their last to get the job done under a lot of pressure.

But he will know those critics aren’t going anywhere – they are waiting for him to slip up next season.