Enzo Maresca Insists He Never Doubted Joao Pedro After Winner at Spurs

Chelsea Coach praises Joao Pedro's winner against Tottenham

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca expresses unwavering support for striker Joao Pedro after his match-winning goal against Tottenham.

“Joao has never been a problem. The problem with Joao is he is not training every day...”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his unwavering support for striker Joao Pedro following his match-winning performance against Tottenham Hotspur. The Brazilian forward ended an eight-game goal drought by scoring the only goal of the game in Chelsea's 1-0 win over their London rivals.

Maresca praised Joao Pedro's determination, highlighting that he has been managing an injury that could impact his availability for the squad outside of matchdays. Despite the challenges, Joao Pedro's goal showcased his quality and provided a much-needed boost for Chelsea.

The win marked a significant result for Chelsea, and Maresca's confidence in his players was evident in his comments about Joao Pedro. “Joao has never been a problem,” Maresca said. “The problem with Joao is he is not training every day. He has some problems we need to manage.” With Joao Pedro set to be out for around six more weeks due to his injury, Maresca will be relying on his squad depth to maintain Chelsea's form.

“Joao has never been a problem. The problem with Joao is he is not training every day. He has some problems we need to manage,” Maresca said, adding that the return from injury of striker Liam Delap - who was suspended for Saturday's game - would offer more options in attack.

Chelsea's Italian manager Enzo Maresca praised his team's performance and highlighted Moises Caicedo's crucial role in the win, saying the Ecuadorian midfielder's ability to steal possession and create chances was key to their success, as seen in the 34th minute when Caicedo's clever play led to Joao Pedro scoring the decisive goal.

“Moi is showing how good he is. He's top. The best thing for him, he's humble, such a good guy and is there to help everyone. Him and Rodri are the best defensive midfielders in the world,” Maresca said.

Spurs coach Thomas Frank expressed disappointment with his team's performance, particularly noting that they managed just one shot on target, highlighting the need for improvement in creating scoring opportunities.

“I would say that of course hurt massively,” the Dane said when asked about Spurs' lack of attacking threat. “I've never been in charge of a team that has created that little. I will of course look to make that better. Today we didn't hit the level.”

🚨Maresca on Joao Pedro: "Joao has never been a problem. The problem with Joao is he is not training every day and the consequence he is not 100 percent fit. I am not worried about Joao, even when he doesn't score, I think against Liverpool he was very good and we have Liam back.… pic.twitter.com/E9NEeudxoF

— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) November 1, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur will host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Chelsea will face Qarabag in Azerbaijan on Wednesday. Tottenham's recent league form at home has been underwhelming, with only one win in their last five matches, although they did start the season with a 3-0 victory over Burnley.