Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted he nearly jeopardised his side’s 1-0 win over Tottenham by making defensive substitutions too early, unaware that 12 minutes of added time would follow.
Maresca, who brought on Tosin Adarabioyo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to protect Enzo Fernandez’s second-half header, later confessed it was a miscalculation.
“I made the change before realising how much time was added. When I saw 12 minutes, I thought it was probably too early,” he said.
The decision gave Spurs room to push forward late on, especially after two lengthy VAR checks extended the game.
Despite the pressure, Chelsea held firm to claim a crucial win in their push for a Champions League spot.
Maresca praised his team’s gritty finish, saying, “If you want to be a top side, sometimes you have to win in a dirty way.”
He also highlighted the impact of Nicolas Jackson’s return from injury, praising the striker’s pressing as vital to Chelsea’s improved structure.
