Enzo Maresca hit back at Chelsea’s critics after The Blues secured UEFA Champions League football for next season with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Levi Colwill tapped in the game’s only goal as Chelsea overcame their dismal away form to beat Forest at the City Ground and finish fourth.
In turn, Chelsea secured Champions League qualification for the first time since Thomas Tuchel guided them to third place back in 2022.
“I didn’t have any doubt about the players,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference. “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, that we were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League.
“They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch [at Forest] 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 do you say? F-off to all of them, because the players deserve that.
“The effort they have been putting in is fantastic.”
Chelsea have returned to Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the current ownership group, led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, took over the club.
Maresca added: “Twelfth two seasons ago, sixth last season, fourth this season, with probably the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League.
“[Manchester] City lost here, Arsenal drew here, Liverpool drew here. Chelsea won. It’s not easy. The players showed how good they are.
“Unfortunately, we are in a business where the people – you – judge us because of the results. Today if we were not able to win the game probably all of you would judge this season as a disaster.”
The Italian also insisted that despite criticism throughout the season, his position was never in doubt.
“I am very happy for many reasons,” Maresca continued. “The players deserve it, since day one they have been working very hard. With the club, the supporters, the owners, the sporting directors, the players – we all go in the same direction.
“The noise was more from outside than from inside.”
