Enzo Maresca challenged his Chelsea second-string players to show “we are men” before their 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow in which he made 11 changes to his starting XI.
The Italian, who saw his team win for the third game in a row to ease through to the fourth round and continue the fine start they have made under his leadership, brushed off the significance of changing his entire line-up from Saturday’s win over West Ham.
He also targeted a consistent playing approach from his team regardless of which side he chooses to field.
A hat-trick from Christopher Nkunku, who has started only once in the Premier League, put League Two Barrow to the sword while there was a first Chelsea goal for Pedro Neto, with goalkeeper Paul Farman scoring an unfortunate own goal.
“I asked them to show how serious we are, to send a message that yes we are young, but we are men, we are serious and we want to compete,” said Maresca.
“We made many changes but the idea from the team was exactly the same. This has to be one of our targets – no matter who is going to play, it’s important that the identity of the team is always there.
“These kinds of game, I’m always worried. They are tricky games and football is full of them, where you can underestimate the other team. Tonight the performance was very good and we showed how serious we are.”
Chelsea were three goals up and out of sight inside half an hour with Joao Felix the ring leader in an overwhelming first-half attacking display.
He had a crucial hand in his side’s third goal, striking the post with a free-kick before the ball bounced in off Farman, that after Nkunku had scored twice in the first 18 minutes.
Nkunku went on to complete his first Chelsea hat-trick in the second half with his side’s fifth goal after Neto had tapped in from Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross.
Maresca emphasised the importance of keeping his back-up players ready to step in should injuries strike later in the season.
“You can have different kinds of problems,” he said.
“At the moment we all available expect for Romeo (Lavia) and Reece (James). If we have a chance we try to share minutes with all of them.
“I’m happy for Pedro, Christo, Joao; for all of them. They all deserve to play from the start in the Premier League. They’re not playing in this moment, but the way they take the chances when we give them is fantastic, no matter if it’s five minutes or 45 minutes or 90 minutes, they are all ready.”
👉👈#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/hJ5muHj5ub
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 24, 2024
The game was also notable for the return of Ben Chilwell, on as a half-time substitute to a raucous welcome from home fans five weeks after being told by Maresca he had no future at the club.
Barrow boss Stephen Clemence, who played 176 times in the Premier League for Tottenham and Birmingham, reflected on a proud night for the League Two leaders.
“I’m really proud of the boys,” he said.
“It’s a difficult opponent to come to a Premier League team, a top-six or seven team. Having played in the Premier League, those top teams are a league within themselves.
“For my boys to stick in the way they did, they could have gone under earlier. They haven’t come here and disgraced themselves, they’ve done really well.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
