Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained why he snubbed fans after the Blues' dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday evening at Craven Cottage.

The Italian coach had a tough time during the first half and much of the second half, as he faced heavy criticism from angry fans while Chelsea were trailing by one goal to the hosts.

Former Arsenal star Alex Iwobi gave the Cottagers an early lead in the 20th minute. Despite Chelsea's efforts to equalise before halftime, they couldn’t break through.

Maresca's men staged a dramatic comeback in the final minutes of the game, denying Fulham a chance to celebrate in front of their passionate fans.

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Quick goals from Tyrique George and Pedro Neto sealed the win for Chelsea.

The hard-fought victory saw the Blues move into the top five of the Premier League table, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 22 points.

As is tradition after every final whistle, club managers usually join their players on the pitch to celebrate victory or thank fans for their support.

However, this was not the case for the Blues manager during their Premier League clash with Fulham.

After the final whistle, the Italian manager shook hands with his coaches and, without wasting time, walked down the tunnel, leaving his players celebrating their dramatic comeback on the field.

In a post-match interview, Maresca explained his actions, stating that the players deserved to celebrate with the fans, which was why he left the pitch early.

He added that it was a nice moment for both the players and the fans.

"But the players deserved to celebrate with the fans, that is the reason why I left the pitch early. It was a nice moment for the players and the fans,” as per the Mirror.

With only five games remaining, Chelsea are in a strong position to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League if they win all their matches and, most importantly, finish in fourth place in the Premier League table.

Following yesterday's victory, the 45-year-old Italian tactician said he has already achieved something significant by guiding his team close to Champions League qualification, adding that if they do secure a spot in the tournament, it would feel like a bonus to him.

According to the Premier League website, the last time Chelsea played in the UEFA Champions League was on April 18, 2023. They were eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals after losing 4-0 on aggregate.

After securing all three points against Fulham, the Blues will now shift their focus to their upcoming match against Everton at the iconic Stamford Bridge this coming weekend.

had earlier reported on Mykhailo Mudryk’s message as a doping case, which continues to drag on.

The Chelsea winger was provisionally suspended by the FA after testing positive for meldonium in December.

Mudryk shared his frustration by posting a sad emoji on Chelsea’s Instagram under a throwback video of their match against Fulham.

Source: TUKO.co.ke