Every word Enzo Maresca said on why he made five Chelsea changes, Nkunku effort, Brentford draw

Enzo Maresca has just completed his post-match press conference after his Chelsea team were held to a goalless stalemate away at Brentford.

A rather drab first-half forced Maresca to make a half-time substitution, with two more following shortly into the second period as well. Chelsea certainly improved in the second-half at the Gtech Community Stadium, but they were unable to find a way past Mark Flekken in the Bees' goal.

Maresca has just conducted his post-match presser and fortunately for you, Bobby Vincent has transcribed every word the Italian had to say...

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What did you make of that performance? An improvement in the second-half?

"I think overall we played a good game. We prepared the game in the way the game was, in terms of starting one way and finishing the other way. We played Thursday night, demanding game, 24 hours less than them. Tricky stadium, tricky game. Sunny day, the pitch was dry. They tried to kill the tempo of the game, so for me it was a complete game.

"But overall, as I said, I think we did enough to win the game. We shot more than 20 times and probably the only thing we missed has been the goal, but overall happy with the performance."

Why did you choose to make so many changes?

"No, the reason why is because we played first the night, so not all of them were 100%. So the idea was to start in one way and to finish in the other way. The plan nearly worked because, as you said, second half, the last half an hour, probably we created a little bit more. But I think overall the volume between first half and second half has been enough to win the game."

Some people would say maybe Brentford away these days at the moment is harder than Tottenham at home. Would it not have been better to rest players maybe there?

"That's what some people would be asking. (2:02) This is a different opinion. I'm here to try to do the best for the club, for the players. I work every day with the players so I can see them the way they are. To be honest, I don't know if Spurs at home compared to Brentford away is better or worse.

"For me they are all complicated, you can see. And Brentford, I think, it's very clear what they try to do, how good they are, not only in set-pieces, in transition. And I think unless the last transition we concede, we control them very well."

(2:43) Your home results have been very good, but you haven't won now in eight Premier League games away from home. Is that a real problem for Champions League qualification?

"I think we start the season winning away many games. We won away games and we struggled a little bit at home. Now it's the other way. I think to get top four, top five or fight for title you need the right balance. Probably, as you said, in this moment we struggle a little bit more to win games away.

"But overall in terms of numbers I think we are there since we start. And hopefully we can, from now on, we can win some games away. But also it's important I think to continue to win the games at home."

But does it put pressure on your home form? Does it make it difficult going into those home games?

"No, to be honest, I don't prepare. For instance, I didn't prepare for the game thinking, guys, it's a long time, we don't win away, we need to win away. No. Since we start I always said the same. When you are not able to win, it's important that you don't lose. You take the point, you move the table."

Were you annoyed by the scheduling? Did you feel it was unfair?

"You know, we said many times that when it's a transition game, it's demanding, physicality demanding. So Tottenham was more transition than compared to today, for instance. But at this stage I think 24 hours make the difference."

On exactly that, FIFA advise that teams should have 72 hours between games, but they don't really follow that themselves. What sort of difference does it make and where do you put the blame for this?

"No, as you said, if there is a rule that about 72 hours, probably you need to respect that. But it's not just about today or our game. It's probably every weekend or happened many times that there are teams that they don't have rest for 72 hours and they try to adapt.

"But at the same time we try to do our best. The reason why first half we start in one way and second half we finish in the other way is because of that. And probably if we decide to start first half in the way we finish, probably after half an hour, 45 minutes, the team was not physicality enough good to finish the game. So we try to find solution like today."

There has been a lot of focus on Cole Palmer not scoring, but all of the attackers are struggling to score right now. Is that a concern?

"No, it will be very important to get some more goals from the ones at front. But again, I think we are three or four scoring goals over the Premier League. So I don't have the feeling that this team need to score more goals. And also when we don't score likes today, we shot more than 20 times.

"So I think the question is for sure we want more goals from the players at front, even from set pieces in general, we want to score more goals. But I don't think it's the reason why. I don't think it's a problem in terms of we are top three, top four in terms of scoring goal. We create chances every game. Probably we struggle to create chances in one or two games.

"But the reason why was also because we play without a nine. If you remember the last four or five games ago, we struggled to create chances, but it's also normal. Now with Nico back, I think we are creating, but at the same time we are scoring goals and hopefully when you shot more than 20 times, hopefully next time we can score. Sometimes you need two shots and you score. It's like this."

It's been a while since Christopher Nkunku got a chance to play up front. It seemed like he struggled to take that role. What do you put it down to?

"No, I think it's just a game. I don't think it's a lack of effort because at the end I can see Christo every day and he's working well. Sometimes probably he wants to give more during a game and he struggles a little bit, but for sure I don't think it's a lack of effort."

Can I also ask about Nkunku please? You brought him off at half-time. It felt like he struggled a little bit in terms of his hold-up play. When Jackson came on, his hold-up play felt better. Did you feel that difference when Jackson came on?

"Our team was getting better and better. Because we tried to keep the ball, they ran and after 45 minutes, one hour, they could be tired. So we expect to improve in the second half. In terms of Christo, I always say the same. When they work hard and they give everything, it's not a problem."

Could you sum up how important it is for Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League next season?

"Since day one, since we started, we have been there. Always top four, top five. For part of the season, we were second. So I think since day one we are there and hopefully we can finish there."