By Ashton Cox
Enzo Maresca was happy for Chelsea to win in an ugly way during their 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were comfortable for large parts of the match and had enjoyed the lions’ share of the ball heading into the closing stages.
In the first minute of added time, Tosin Adarabioyo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were introduced to see out the win in a defensive manner.
However, they had to hang on for a while as 12 minutes were awarded by the fourth official, forcing the Blues to hold out in an ugly shape for longer than hoped.
The Blues boss said: “At some moments, the team was very good. We tried to achieve the result playing in the way we want to play. We don’t like to finish the game like we did in the last five minutes.
“If we want to become an important team, we need to win in a dirty way, ugly way and [I’m] quite happy.”
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou fumed as VAR ruled out an equaliser for his team.
Pape Matar Sarr had scored from long range after dispossessing Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park, although a lengthy VAR check – to match Chelsea’s cancelled second goal – showed Sarr fouled Caicedo.
Postecoglou fumed: “You are standing around for 12 minutes. It’s just killing the game, but no-one cares about that – they just love the drama and controversy and I’m sure there will be 24 hours’ discussion about it and that’s what everyone wants.
“If a referee sees that and he needs to see it for six minutes, what’s clear and obvious about it?”
Victory saw Chelsea return into the top four in the hopes of sealing a Champions League spot for next season.
They sit one point above Manchester City in fifth and two above Newcastle United, although the Geordies could leapfrog both teams with a win in their game in hand.
Maresca said: “If you measure on the result, then for sure if we achieve Champions League it is an important thing but from my point of view, I try to see how we improve day by day.
“The result is an important part because we are close to the end of the season.”
Enzo Fernandez broke the deadlock in the 50th minute as he arrived in the box unmarked to head Cole Palmer’s cross into the net.
Moises Caicedo then scored from 25 yards following a cleared free-kick, although a lengthy VAR process ruled that Levi Colwill interfered with play in an offside position.
Pape Matar Sarr thought he’d equalised in the 70th minute from range but the goal was chalked off as replays showed he collided with Caicedo’s knee rather than the ball.