Fan Taunts Force Enzo Maresca to Storm Out of Chelsea Press Conference
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca skipped his post-match media duties following Tuesday's 2-2 stalemate with Bournemouth, delegating the responsibility to assistant Willy Caballero after becoming ill.
Maresca remained on the sideline for the entire frustrating draw and became the focus of angry jeers from several supporters at Stamford Bridge as the Blues allowed two goals from long throw-ins to extend their inconsistent form.
Beyond the disappointing outcome, Maresca's choice to substitute star player Cole Palmer at the 60-minute mark sparked audible displeasure from the crowd.
Fans anticipated hearing Maresca explain his tactical decisions but instead witnessed Caballero taking his place before the media following the match.
"He hasn't been feeling well for the past couple of days," Caballero explained regarding Maresca. "He had a fever two days back, yet he conducted the recent training sessions because he wanted to get the squad ready for tonight's match.
"However, following the game, he returned to the dressing room and requested that I take over because he wasn't feeling up to it. That's all I can share with you."
Caballero continued: "He's managing well because he's extremely dedicated. He puts in countless hours daily, despite feeling unwell these past two days. He serves as an inspiration to me and the entire coaching staff."
Caballero Defends Palmer Substitution
Maresca had previously stated that Palmer was capable of completing full matches after recovering from an extended groin problem, yet he has been withdrawn in both recent appearances. Palmer played 72 minutes versus Aston Villa and 63 against Bournemouth.
When substituted against Villa, Palmer visibly displayed his dissatisfaction with the decision. This time, however, he showed no public frustration as he promptly exited the field and acknowledged the supporters, who directed criticism at Maresca with chants of "You don't know what you're doing."
"Naturally, every fan wants their top performers on the field and we share that desire," Caballero observed.
"However, Cole is recovering from an extended injury, so we must make appropriate substitutions for the match while also protecting our players' wellbeing, as we need them available for the entire season and every fixture."
The encouraging news for Chelsea supporters is that Palmer appears to have avoided re-injuring himself and should be available to start their upcoming fixture against Manchester City on Jan. 4. His participation in that match becomes even more crucial with Moisés Caicedo now suspended.
"We're extremely disappointed because it was his first infringement of the match and occurred right near us," Caballero commented on Caicedo's costly booking, received for fouling Adrien Truffert just four minutes into the game.
"We reviewed the incident multiple times and it doesn't appear worthy of a yellow card. But the decision stands, so we'll be without a crucial player. We must now consider who will fill Moi's position, and while it's certainly a significant setback, it's similar to when we're missing Cole, Liam [Delap], or any other player, as they're all vital to our team."