A dip in energy levels is understandable if a game is played in searing heat.
But for Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, the scorching temperature of 20 degrees Celsius was evidently warm enough for him to explain why his side slowed down in the second half of their 1-0 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca was in the stands for the clash as he served a one-match dugout ban due to yellow cards accumulated as former Blues goalkeeper Willy Caballero patrolled the touchline.
Yet it mattered little as Nicolas Jackson’s first-half strike proved the difference in a vital win for Chelsea as they look to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Jackson’s goal came just seconds after Trevoh Chalobah dispossessed Toffees striker Beto in the centre circle and slipped the ball to Enzo Fernandez.
The World Cup winner then found Jackson who drove a low effort beyond the outstretched arms of Jordan Pickford in the 27th minute.
It capped off an impressive first half from the hosts, although they struggled to maintain their efforts in the second period as the Toffees slowly grew back into the match.
Everton continuously poured numbers forward but were denied by some key stops from Blues gloveman Robert Sanchez.
Speaking to talkSPORT after the contest, Maresca was effusive in his praise of Chelsea’s first half performance but felt his side’s dip in energy in the following 45 minutes was ‘part of the game’.
“Especially in the first half, I think we controlled the game, we dominated, we created chances,” Maresca said.
“We didn’t concede nothing in the first half.
“Second half we dropped a little bit, but I think it’s part of the game.”
Maresca added: “It’s also normal to drop a little bit in the second half, especially with the 20 degrees, it’s not easy for the players.
“We start very strong, we create chances. we didn’t concede nothing.
“Second half, we dropped off a little bit but I think we were nasty enough to protect the result.”
Maresca’s head-scratching weather claim left talkSPORT’s Chief Live Football host Adrian Durham utterly baffled.
“Is he serious?” Durham said.
“They were struggling to play because it was 20 degrees Celsius?
“Extraordinary. I’ve never heard anything like it.”
Chelsea’s win moved them up to fifth in the table as they sit on 60 points.
However, the Blues could be leapfrogged by Nottingham Forest as they are also on 60 points but have a game in hand.
It’s why Maresca knows his side cannot afford to slip up in their final four league matches this season.
“We have now four more games to go and we are going to try to win as much as we can,” Maresca said.
