Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has blamed the team’s inability to finish off their chances as the reason for the disappointing goalless draw against Brentford.
The Blues failed to convert any of their 21 shots at goal to drop two vital points in their race to qualify for the Champions League.
The Italian manager made five changes to the team that defeated Tottenham on Thursday with Cole Palmer, and Nico Jackson dropping to the bench.
Maresca said the team gave everything but rued their failure to convert their numerous chances.
He said: “Overall we played a good game. We prepared the game in the way it was, in terms of starting one way and finishing the other way. We played Thursday night, a demanding game, 24 hours less than them. Tricky stadium, sunny day, the pitch was dry, they tried to kill the tempo of the game.
“Overall we did enough to win the game. We shot more than 20 times. The only thing we missed was the goal, but overall I’m happy with the performance. When you are not able to win, it’s important you don’t lose, you take the point and you move the table.
“At this stage of the season, 24 hours can make the difference in terms of rest and energy, which is the reason why I’m happy with the performance. They gave everything.”
Maresca opened up on the reason behind his heavy rotation for the encounter ahead of the Europa Conference League clash against Legia Warsaw.
He said: ‘We played Thursday night. Not all of them [our players] were 100 per cent. The idea was to start in one way and finish in the other way. The plan nearly worked because in the last half-an-hour we created a little bit more.
“It’s very clear how good Brentford are and what they try to do, not only in set-pieces but in transition, but apart from the last transition we conceded, we controlled them very well.If we decided to start the first half the way we finished, probably after 45 minutes the team would not be physically good enough to finish the game. We tried to find a solution.
“After 45 minutes, one hour, our team was getting better and better. We tried to keep the ball so they ran, and after one hour they could be tired. We expected to improve in the second half.”
The draw is a blow for Chelsea’s chances of finishing in the top four as they currently have 53 points from 31 games to sit in fourth, one point ahead of Man City.
Brentford recorded their first clean sheet of the season at home in the encounter, and they sit in the 12th position on the log.
Chelsea will be hoping to bounce back against Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge next Sunday, while Brentford takes on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
