Maresca’s Moment - When Tactics Trump Noise

83rd minute: Tyrique George equalises.

90+3: Pedro Neto seals the comeback win.

From despair to triumph in just ten minutes.

Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Fulham wasn’t just another late victory. It was a tactical statement. A reminder that Enzo Maresca is building something—whether you're patient enough to see it or not.

We went into the break one goal down. Still behind as of the 80th minute. The crowd was restless. The critics were warming up their keyboards. But Maresca? He was just getting started.

He made bold changes. Took off striker Nicholas Jackson. Brought on young Tyrique George. Subbed off Reece James, our captain, and Madueke right after halftime. And then came the masterstroke—he pulled Pedro Neto to the touchline and whispered precise instructions into his ear.

Minutes later, Neto scored the winner. George, the young blood, had already equalised.

Still think that’s not tactics? Still think it’s not ‘Marescaball’’—the possession-heavy, patient, probing football that demands intelligence and courage?

The same players you insult weekly, calling them not good enough? When they win, you say it’s just “individual brilliance.” But when they lose, it’s all on the coach?

Let’s be real.
This win wasn’t accidental. It was the result of sharp in-game management, tactical bravery, and belief in youth. But many can’t or won’t acknowledge it—not because the progress isn’t there, but because they’re too focused on blame.

This season has been tough—no doubt. What made it harder was how it began. We started strong. We tasted victory again. And with that taste came expectations. When we started to slip—drawing or losing games we expected to win—we panicked. We lashed out. At the players. At the club. At Maresca.

We forgot the facts: the last three seasons have been chaos. No shape. No spark. No soul. Maresca didn’t create the mess—he inherited it.

Now, there are signs of progress. Call it growth. Call it belief. But no one said this would be instant. That’s what Maresca has been telling us all along: manage your expectations. This is a rebuild. A process.

Instead, we attack him. We insult the squad. We pretend we’re still in 2012, demanding results from a team still learning to walk together.

But today proved something else:
With patience, belief, and leadership, we can rise again.

Chelsea keep their Champions League hopes alive. But even more importantly, they remind us that when tactics, trust, and time come together, the future is worth fighting for.

This wasn’t just a win. It was a warning.

Chelsea are under construction. But when we’re done, expect a fortress.

#Puobabangna

By Victor Raul Puobabangna Plance from Eggu in the Upper West Region of Ghana