Chelsea’s starting XI, with an average age of just 23 years and 97 days, was the second youngest ever fielded by an English club in a Champions League away match. And the inexperience almost cost them the match. Maresca tried to keep his cool in the post-match press conference, but there was no hiding his frustration.
“The big difference today for me was inside the box,” he said. “The goal we conceded, they are silly goals for me. In their box, for the amount of times that we arrived, we have not been clinical enough. So this is the big difference for me.”
Maresca also gave credit to Qarabag, adding: “They are a good team, I said already a few days ago, they are a good team, they are doing well. And especially at home, it’s difficult.”