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'We had to adapt fast' - Chelsea shock Man City for late draw amid 'difficult' post-Enzo Maresca transition
A jubilant Chelsea celebrated Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time equalizer as the Blues secured a 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium against Manchester City on Sunday.
The match was the first for the London side since parting ways with manager Enzo Maresca, who led the team to a FIFA Club World Cup title and UEFA Conference League crown during his 18 months in charge. The silverware wasn't enough to save Maresca's job, however, as the Blues slumped to 15 points behind Premier League-leading Arsenal to start 2026, despite spending hundreds of millions on players over the past several transfer windows.
For the Chelsea players, news of Maresca's sacking was "difficult" but starting the new year with a comeback draw against high-flying Man City in Manchester is a good step forward.
"We had to accept what we were on earlier on in the week and put it behind us," Chelsea captain Reece James told Sky Sports. "We came here with a game plan.
"In the first half, we made a slight error for their goal. But we grew into the game in the second half, and we knew a chance would come and [Fernandez] took the chance when it came."
James praised interim Chelsea head coach Calum McFarlane and his assistants for facilitating the transition well, especially with the first match after Maresca's departure coming against the most successful Premier League side of the past decade.
The coaching staff was able to adjust and react to what they saw from Man City in the first half, leading to the positive ending for the visitors, James said.
"Credit to the staff that stepped up," the captain said. "They haven't been in this role before. To come to Manchester City away as your first first-team game is difficult.
"We had to adapt fast. We came out in the second half with a slightly different plan, and as the game went on, we grew more into it."
A big reason for the post-match upbeat mood was Fernandez's dramatic equalizer, with the midfielder collecting a deflected Malo Gusto cross and needing a few bites at the cherry before knocking it past Man City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The goal-scorer echoed James' sentiments about Maresca's departure and stated that the team must continue to look forward.
"Difficult moment for us, but it's part of football," Fernandez said. "Happy for the team.
"Of course, I am sorry for [Maresca] but it is part of football and life. We keep going."
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