Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, achieved a crucial comeback to beat Lincoln City 2-1 in the Carabao Cup, avoiding a possible upset in the tournament. The match, played at the LNER Stadium, saw Lincoln City, a League One team, take the lead with a goal in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Enzo Fernández. Despite having a star-studded lineup, valued at almost £400 million, Chelsea struggled against a motivated opponent. However, the team reacted with determination in the second half, scoring two goals in five minutes thanks to Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte, thus securing their place in the next round.
Maresca, when questioned about his words at halftime, admitted to having had an intense conversation with his players. The coach highlighted the need to adapt to the playing style of Lincoln City, a team that showed great desire on the field. Maresca also mentioned that this experience will be valuable for future matches against teams from lower leagues. Alejandro Garnacho, who made his debut as a starter after his signing for 40 million pounds, was booed by Lincoln’s fans. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who had his first start since June, also faced difficulties, but Maresca backed him, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. Lincoln, who had overcome Harrogate and Burton to reach this encounter, had only beaten Chelsea once in seven previous meetings, in the 1907 FA Cup. Lincoln manager Michael Skubala expressed his pride in his team’s performance, although he regretted not having achieved a better result.Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea manager
