Enzo Maresca savoured chants of ‘we’ve acquired our Chelsea again’ from travelling followers following a 5-1 Premier League thrashing of 10-man Southampton at St Mary’s.

Blues supporters additionally sang the identify of head coach Maresca throughout the closing levels of an emphatic success sealed by objectives from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho.

Backside membership Southampton briefly levelled by means of Joe Aribo however had been a person down from the thirty ninth minute after captain Jack Stephens was despatched off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea, who’ve endured an underwhelming interval since Todd Boehly’s consortium purchased the membership in 2022, climbed above Arsenal and into second place on aim distinction, seven factors behind leaders Liverpool.

“It was an excellent feeling, particularly as a result of you’ll be able to see that they’re completely satisfied, that’s our goal,” Maresca stated of the ambiance within the away finish.

“We work day by day to maintain them completely satisfied and tonight was an excellent feeling, particularly the one which they’ll see that Chelsea’s again. This is a vital factor.”

Maresca rotated his squad in Hampshire, making seven modifications following Sunday’s spectacular 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Following a sloppy begin, his facet, who stretched their unbeaten run to 6 top-flight video games, might simply have received by extra as they hit the woodwork thrice, along with squandering a bunch of probabilities.

“I’m very pleased with the 5 we scored,” stated the Italian.

“I’m not pleased with the primary 15, 20 minutes, the place we struggled. The rationale why we struggled is as a result of we ready the sport to press them man to man and the primary 15, 20 minutes we weren’t urgent them man to man.

“After 15, 20 minutes we alter that and the sport was significantly better. For certain we might rating extra however 5 objectives they’re sufficient.”

Southampton supervisor Russell Martin rued a pricey “second of insanity” from skipper Stephens.

The defender’s ridiculous purple card was the headline mistake of a list of errors from the beleaguered south-coast membership as they slipped seven factors from security following an eleventh defeat of a dismal season.

“I don’t assume anybody will probably be as dissatisfied as Jack,” Martin stated of Stephens, who was despatched off for the second time this time period after tugging the curls of Cucurella as Saints ready to take a nook.

“I haven’t acquired to sit down down and discuss with him about that in any respect. He will probably be damage greater than anybody and it’s modified the sport for us tonight, which is disappointing.

“I believe they’ve to explain it as violent conduct; it’s not violent actually however there’s no different clarification for that actually. It’s a second of insanity that’s actually value us and Jack.”

Southampton repeatedly invited strain with their dangerous makes an attempt to play out from defence, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley gifting Chelsea their second aim, scored by Nkunku.

Whereas Saints had been booed off at full-time, Martin, who was lacking a bunch of key gamers attributable to accidents and suspensions, praised the hassle of his depleted group.

“Once they see such a giant scoreline and a few the objectives we concede, I perceive it (the jeers),” he stated.

“It’s soccer, it’s emotive, individuals really feel a lot about it, it’s why it’s such a particular sport on this nation and so huge.

“I perceive it however I really feel actually pleased with the gamers tonight, a number of the soccer we performed at 11 v 11 was wonderful.

“For an hour with 10 males we’ve dug in so deep, there have been some huge performances. I’m pleased with them for that and I’m grateful for that as a result of that’s not straightforward in that circumstance.”