Maresca hails Chelsea for winning ugly in Champions League chase
Enzo Maresca was delighted that Chelsea showcased their ability to win ugly against Tottenham on Thursday, as the Blues boosted their hopes of Champions League football.
Enzo Fernandez's second-half header proved decisive at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea claimed a deserved win over their London rivals.
Chelsea were the better team for long periods, with Guglielmo Vicario making a stunning save to deny Jadon Sancho late in the first half, after Micky van de Ven had hit his own post.
Spurs' only real response came when Pape Sarr squeezed a shot beyond Robert Sanchez from 25 yards out with 20 minutes to play, but that strike was disallowed following a VAR review, as the substitute was ruled to have fouled Moises Caicedo.
That VAR intervention – as well as another review that led to a Caicedo volley being chalked off – led to 12 minutes of second-half stoppage time being played, and Maresca was delighted by the way Chelsea navigated that period.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca said: "The result is an important part because we are close to the end of the season.
"At the same time, we try to achieve the result playing in the way we want to play.
"At some moments the team was very good, then we don't like to finish the game like we did in the last five minutes. If we want to become an important team we need to win in a dirty way, ugly way and I'm quite happy.
"In the last 10 minutes I think the team showed effort, togetherness, spirit and it's something that we need."
The victory saw Chelsea leapfrog Manchester City and Newcastle United – both of whom won on Wednesday – to move back into the Premier League's top four.
Maresca knows Champions League qualification will be massive for the club's future, but he also wants to see his team continue their stylistic development.
"If you measure on the results, then for sure, if we achieve Champions League it's an important thing," the Italian added.
"But from my point of view, I try to see how we improve day by day and I can see, since the first day, that the team is getting better and better."
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill had more touches (74) and successful passes (58) than any other player on the pitch, producing a composed performance after missing out on Thomas Tuchel's first England squad.
He believes working with Maresca will help him reach the next level, saying: "Everyone always says I have a load of potential, but I don't think potential means anything. You've got to show it every game.
"This season, at times, I have. At other times, I haven't. I need to keep progressing and learning because I know where I can be and under this gaffer, he'll take me there, I'm sure."