Enzo Maresca has explained why he isn't worried about Chelsea's record in big games this season.
The Blues currently sit third in the Premier League table after 11 games played, but have failed to beat any of the top teams they've faced.
Maresca's side have lost against both Manchester City and Liverpool, while they've also drawn with Manchester United and, most recently, Arsenal, with whom they shared the spoils at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw with the Gunners, Maresca, who only took over as Chelsea manager in July, was asked about his side's record against big opposition.
He replied: "Do you think we deserved to lose against Liverpool? No. But this is football and it can happen."
"Very soon we are going to win this kind of game but for sure in this moment, the performance is very important because if you draw tonight and you don’t deserve the draw, then you might be happy with the result but not the performance," he added.
Across those four games against City, Liverpool, United, and Arsenal, Chelsea have found the net just three times – drawing a blank against City and scoring just once against the other three.
Apart from in the defeat to City, however, the Blues had more shots on goal than their opponents in each of those games.
Asked if his team lack conviction in the final third, Maresca said: "No I don’t think so because the team until the end were trying to win the game and it was just about scoring one more goal than the other team."
"I would be more worried if the performance wasn’t good enough but I think we competed very well against Man City, Liverpool, Manchester United, and tonight so this is very important," he said.
Pedro Neto on Arsenal goal: "I’m really happy"
Against Arsenal on Sunday, Chelsea went behind on the hour mark when Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli stole in at the back post to control and slot home Martin Odegaard's cross.
The Blues levelled just 10 minutes later, however, through Pedro Neto, who smashed the ball into the bottom corner of David Raya's net from distance.
The goal was Neto's first in the Premier League for Chelsea since completing a £54 million switch to West London from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer.
"I’m really pleased to help the team," Neto said after Sunday's game. "This is a group that works really hard every day, so to help the team makes me really happy."
"It’s really special," he added. "I hope to continue this consistency."
Describing the goal, which was assisted by Enzo Fernandez, the 24-year-old Portugal international said: "I remember Enzo received the ball, he looked at me straight away and I knew what he wanted me to do. I took a touch and I shot right away, and I’m really happy to see it hit the net."
Although pleased to get his first goal in the top flight, however, Neto was disappointed with the result.
"In the end we wanted to win but we had hard work in front us," he explained. "We know they are a good team but we came to the game to win it. Of course, we are not as happy as we wanted to be, but we don’t want to lose as well so it’s a good point against a tough team."
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