We Showed Identity, Says Maresca
- Leicester City were beaten 4-2 by Chelsea in the Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final
- It took two stoppage-time goals for the Premier League side to progress
- Enzo Maresca analysed a gutsy display from the 10-man Foxes
- Stephy Mavididi’s sensational strike levelled the tie before Callum Doyle’s red card
The Foxes had it all to do in the second half, heading into the break two down, but came out fighting and levelled the scores courtesy of a stunning Stephy Mavididi effort.
Callum Doyle was then sent off following a VAR check and City’s 10 men battled valiantly until stoppage time, when two late goals saw the home side advance to the last-four.
Reflecting on a hectic 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, City’s Manager took away many positives from the performance against Premier League opposition.
“We lost the game but the performance has been fantastic,” he stated at full-time. “The most important thing is that we continue with our identity. Even in the first half when we were 2-0 down, I was very happy.
“To come here and show ourselves was very good. In the second half, we tried to continue in the same way, we scored twice and then, with the red card and 10 men, it completely changed the dynamic of the game. At 11 vs. 11, the momentum was with us.
“We played well. I’m very proud of the players once again. This is the way we play. We try to play the way we like against any team. Sometimes it happens but we had already deserved to score in the first half.”
Blues substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored in additional time to break Leicester’s resistance at the death, though there was a huge appreciation from the travelling 6,000 Foxes in the capital for their team’s efforts.
Attention turns back to the Sky Bet Championship in two weeks’ time, as the promotion race hots up after the international break.
The 44-year-old added: “If there was going to be half an hour more defending like this, it was probably better if they scored before the 90 minutes ended. But the fans can be very proud and the most important thing now is that we recharge energy and look to reach our target.
“Unfortunately, we lose many players in the international break but it is what it is and we need to go again from Bristol City [onwards]. Now Stephy has to help us to win games in the Championship and finish in the right way.”