Chelsea's Maresca Emphasizes Defensive Strength Over Goal Scoring

London, December 11 (NationPress) Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca has stressed the significance of solid defense after his team's 4-3 triumph against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, praising their overall balance in both offense and defense. Although they emerged victorious, Chelsea found themselves trailing after conceding two early goals during the match.

"We conceded three goals against Tottenham recently, yet only two teams [Liverpool and Arsenal] have allowed fewer goals than us [18 - in the Premier League]. Our attacking and defensive efforts are commendable. Titles aren't secured solely by scoring; strong defending is essential," Maresca remarked during a pre-match press briefing.

"Even with three goals conceded against Spurs, our defensive record is still impressive, placing us among the top clubs in terms of goals allowed," Maresca stated ahead of Chelsea's upcoming UEFA Conference League match against Astana on Tuesday.

Chelsea is enjoying a successful season under Enzo Maresca, currently positioned in second place, just four points behind league leaders Liverpool. The team has scored 35 goals, the highest in the English top division, while their 18 goals conceded are the third fewest in the league.

Maresca addressed the media prior to Chelsea's journey to Astana, Kazakhstan, for their match on Wednesday, which involves an arduous eight-hour flight and challenging conditions with temperatures nearing -17 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. He acknowledged the demanding travel ahead.

"Eight hours is an unusual travel time for a match. We must go there, compete, and aim to perform well while also preparing for our next game. We will have a training session now before we board our flight. After dinner, we will rest. Luckily, they are five hours ahead of us, meaning when we wake up tomorrow, it will already be midday in England," he said.

"We will be in Kazakhstan for less than 24 hours, but the flight and the cold [-11C] will surely be challenging. We will arrive back in London around 6 am on Friday, and with a match on Sunday, we must be ready to play," he concluded.