Maresca insists 'nothing has changed' for Chelsea following Barcelona victory

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca sought to temper the excitement from his young teams impressive 3-0 victory over 10-man Barcelona at home, stressing that nothing has changed for the Blues.

The Champions League success on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge positioned the London outfit well for a spot in the knockout stages, thanks to a dazzling exhibition of offensive play highlighted by a stunning strike from teenage forward Estevao.

The 18-year-old Brazilian evaded centre-back Pau Cubarsi before drifting beyond left-back Alejandro Balde and unleashing a fierce effort that proved impossible to stop.

Estevaos goal followed an own-goal by Jules Kounde that gave Chelsea the lead, while Barcelona skipper Ronald Araujo received a red card in the opening period for a second yellow card offence.

Liam Delap netted Chelseas third, marking his first goal since their pre-season Club World Cup success, boosting the sides spirits ahead of Sundays encounter with Premier League frontrunners and local foes Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

It represents a significant triumph, particularly against Barcelona, yet it alters nothing regarding our identity as a team or our potential accomplishments, Maresca remarked, noting that a win would reduce Arsenals top-flight advantage to three points.

He continued: Now our attention turns to the upcoming match. The atmosphere felt excellent. Playing at home in front of our supporters makes these experiences far more enjoyable. Over the next 48 hours, we will disconnect fully, relax, and recharge.

We must sustain this positive run. Winning certainly makes recuperation simpler.