Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has his say on Premier League ban: 'It was worth it'

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has no regrets about the red card he earned for his celebrations in the Blues' victory over Liverpool. The Italian had already been shown a yellow card before Estevao gave the London side all three points, and earned a second yellow - and a red - for the way he went about celebrating that winning goal.

The immediate upshot was that assistant WIlly Caballero took Maresca's place for post-match media duties. The Italian has now had a chance to speak about the moment, though, and he has indicated he'd do the same again if given the chance.

"It was a huge emotion," Maresca said at the Trento Sports Festival (via Gianluca Di Marzio). "It's my second season at Chelsea and it was the first time we won at home in the last minute.

"Sending off? Many times football is passion, instinct. I probably didn't have time to think. It was an instinctive reaction, but I think it was worth it.”

The red card means Maresca will also serve a one-match suspension. This means he won't be in the dugout for Chelsea's next Premier League match, against Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime.

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Chelsea and Forest are in a rather different position to when they faced off on the final day of last season. Back then, a victory for Forest would have seen them leapfrog Maresca's team and qualify for the Champions League, but Levi Colwill's goal proved the difference at the City Ground.

Since then, Chelsea's opponents have parted ways with manager Nuno and appointed Ange Postecoglou. New boss Postecoglou is already under pressure, though, having failed to win a match in his first month at the helm.

Postecoglou said fans were entitled to their opinion after "sacked in the morning" chants ran out during a Europa League defeat at home to Midtjylland. “I guess it's just the climate we're in and it seems that's the way we're going," the Australian said. "But look, that's something I can control. My responsibility lies to make sure that we try and get some wins for this football club and progress it.

"I get the mood around the place isn't going to be great, I understand people's kind of attitude at the moment, particularly towards me, but I never worry about that. It's not unfamiliar territory for me."

Chelsea sit seventh in the table heading into Saturday's game, but could end the weekend in the Champions League spots if results go their way. Forest are just outside the relegation places in 17th, and will fall into the drop zone if one of Burnley, West Ham or Wolves wins and they lose.

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