Favourites to become new Chelsea manager as potential replacement for Enzo Maresca

Maresca didn’t speak to the television media after the game, with assistant coach Willy Caballero saying he is feeling unwell.

“He didn’t feel well and the last couple of days,” Caballero said.

“It is important for the players to have the manager there but he was dealing with some temperature and some kind of virus and today he asked me if I could do the press conference because he felt really bad.

“I feel what any supporter feels, that we missed the chance to win the three points. We had a good game with the ball, we created chances, we got the penalty and created a very good second goal.

“I think we put Bournemouth to defending in the box for many, many minutes but the final ball was missing today. It is something we need to find and improve.

“We work a lot, we trust a lot in our set-piece coach. We had been dealing with tough situations until today. We made changes, we made amendments to correct that but today the problem is it happened twice. That is the thing that is a little disappointing for us – to concede two goals in the same way.

“It is important what we achieved but in football it is normal, when you achieve something the desperation to win more is there. This club deserves to fight for more and many things. We are the first who want to win any game, we are not comfortable to equalise against Bournemouth here or away.”

Caballero speaking to Sky Sports: “Enzo [Maresca] isn’t feeling well. He didn’t feel well the last two days but still made training and made the game today. I took his position just to clarify that he isn’t feeling well enough to do the rest of the stuff that the manager has to do, so I’m here instead.”

On the performance: “It was a crazy first half. We turned the score around but then immediately conceded a goal, so that’s something we need to improve and correct immediately. The players showed up and created the build-up and the open play was on point. It was perfect, we created chances and had chances in the second half too.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t win the game and it feels a little bit disappointing. We did better things than Bournemouth to get the three points, but we only have one point because we conceded two goals today. The final product was just missing because we arrived in the box and got many crosses off.

“We are improving in certain areas but we still need to learn to kill games and maintain the score when we are winning. We put in a lot of effort to go up 2-1 but we couldn’t manage things to take three points. It is always frustrating to concede from set pieces but it is part of the game. When you concede two in the same game though, it is tough.”

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a tough game, a difficult game. We tried to give everything but when you concede two goals in that manner, it makes things complicated at this level. We just didn’t see the game out in the second half, we were making chances but didn’t score so it was difficult. But we played well tonight, we were solid even though we conceded two goals. We need to continue like this and I hope the future is good.

“We conceded the two goals in the same way, on a first touch and a first ball. It isn’t just one player’s fault, it is everyone that needs to do better. We need to analyse what happened and progress from that. We need to learn to kill games. We need to learn to score when we have the chance. We do try everything though and sometimes it is just a bit like this.”

On whether this was a missed opportunity for points: “Of course. When we don’t win, we miss an opportunity. We take one point tonight, which is difficult. We need to progress in January for sure and win more games. This season isn’t finished so we need to continue working on us, that’s it. We are close to the team we want to be, we are just missing some small details. Of course we are young, but we need to be more mature.”

Here’s how fans reacted amid the favourites to become new Chelsea manager as potential replacement for Enzo Maresca…

@pattyalttman: could be over for maresca as board questions fighting the title was a key thing when dec ends, he’s frustrated with lack of quality in signings, he wants to leave, directors (joe shields not involved) will be taking decisions today. #cfc Outcome to be briefed soon to media

@caden_charp: If this is it for Enzo Maresca at #CFC, all I have to say is thank you. He is clearly passionate and takes pride in everything he does. That I admire. Manager instability is sadly part of this club. His exit, obviously, won’t fix the true issues still present.

@CFCJamie_3: Did Maresca frustrate me at times? Yes. But there are no better options available at this moment. Be prepared for an absolutely abysmal replacement

@TaylorKTBFFH: If they genuinely believe he’s [Rosenior] better than Maresca then they deserve what they get. Rosenior may be a good manager in a few years but he is never ready to take a chelsea job he is extremely raw imo

@JTChelseaFan01: Well this all sounds incredibly messy. Rather fitting really for how this ownerships tenure has gone so far