Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca hailed Liverpool’s “fantastic” start to the season in the wake of Diogo Jota’s death in July.
Jota was tragically killed in a car crash alongside his brother André Silva, leaving the entire footballing world stunned by his sudden passing.
Maresca is no stranger to losing a teammate in such circumstances having been a teammate of Antonio Puerta’s at Sevilla. The talented wing back suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in a game against Getafe in August 2007 and passed away in hospital three days later aged just 22.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in Saturday’s evening kick off, Maresca was asked about the vulnerabilities the reigning Premier League champions have shown on the pitch in recent weeks.
But the Italian looked beyond the defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray to point how Liverpool have coped admirably in the face of such adversity, touching on the difficulties he’s experienced in Seville.
“I don't think that now it's better to play Liverpool just because they drop points in the last two games. It's always a tough game. Always a big team,” Maresca said.
“For me personally, the way they are doing this season, in any case, is fantastic. Especially after [Diogo] Jota's tragedy. I live exactly the same when I was a player 20 years ago. It's not easy for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training ground and you see every day that place empty. So you have to be very strong.
“And this is the reason why for me they are doing not good, even better than good, even more. Because they are trying to deal with a problem that is not easy.”
