Enzo Maresca bizarrely insists winning not important after Chelsea draw against Crystal Palace
Enzo Maresca saw his Chelsea side draw to Crystal Palace
PA
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted winning was not the most important thing as a coach by saying he is prioritising the performance.
It comes after he saw his side disappointingly draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against Crystal Palace.
And it was the same old problem for the Blues, who failed to convert their chances in the first half and were punished as a result.
Nicolas Jackson had scored the opener for Chelsea but Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer had brilliant chances to extend the lead but were denied by an inspired Dean Henderson between the posts in the away net.
Enzo Maresca has insisted winning is not the most important thing as coach
PA
Ebere Eze scored a stunner after the break for Palace that saw them draw level and could have won the contest, though Jackson also had a golden opportunity to steal all three points at the end.
It was far from the pulsating victory that Chelsea inflicted on Wolves last week at Molineux in a 6-2 win.
But strangely, Maresca has insisted taking home all three points is not the most important thing as a coach.
Instead, he insisted the performance is his biggest priority - though even that was lacking.
"We completely deserved to win the game," the Italian said in his post-match press conference.
JUST IN: Gary Lineker says football has 'lost its mind' after controversial incident
"We had many, many chances. The most important thing was the performance and the performance was there.
"We conceded just two shots today.
"We didn't take the three points but playing the way we did today, I think we will win games."
READ MORE: Jermaine Jenas 'was in a state' as phone call details emerge following BBC sacking
Nicolas Jackson had put Chelsea ahead before Crystal Palace equalised
PA
He added: "We completely deserved to win the game with the amount of chances we had.
"Overall the performance was good. The direction is the correct one."
Chelsea spent heavily in the summer, splashing out over £200million on players but only one new signing started on Sunday - Pedro Neto.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Chelsea have toiled under Enzo Maresca already
It speaks volumes over the level of chaos in the transfer window that has been seen at Stamford Bridge not just this summer but since the arrival of Clearlake Capital in 2022.
Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart had enacted a 'four transfer window plan' - with this summer signalling the final transfer window of their project.
But the squad looks as disjointed as ever with a top-class goalkeeper, centre-back and striker still missing and several wingers on the books, including newest signing Jadon Sancho.
You may like
