LONDON — Enzo Maresca slammed criticism of Chelsea's scrappy 1-0 victory against Leicester, as the Blues boss claimed winning in the Premier League is not as easy as it looks in a PlayStation game.

Maresca's side climbed to fourth place thanks to Marc Cucurella's long-range rocket in the second half at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

But, Chelsea's largely limp display against second-bottom Leicester still came in for flak from frustrated fans, who booed the players off at halftime.

Maresca has previously defended the team's style under his leadership, which prioritizes possession over quick attacks.

And the Italian launched another spirited rebuke of the doubters after pumping the air in delight at Chelsea's fourth win in its last 12 league games.

"People have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play," Maresca said.

"When a team creates the number of chances we created today, you have to be happy. It's not easy. Leicester, until minute 83, were 0-0 against Arsenal.

"If you think football is just (like on a) PlayStation, and you can win easily, no way. Every game is difficult. The way the players have done it today is fantastic.

"Our Champions League target will (require) our fans to support us. When we play at home we need them behind the players."

Cucurella's blast was enough to lift Chelsea two points above Manchester City in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.

But, there was more frustration for Maresca when Cole Palmer's first-half penalty was saved by Mads Hermansen.

England forward Palmer, who was taken off in the second half having not trained for two days due to illness, has gone eight matches without scoring.

"Yesterday he didn't train," said Maresca.

"During the night, he didn't feel well, but this morning he woke up and said to me: 'I want to be on the pitch, because I want to help this club to play Champions League'.

"In the last 48 hours, he was very bad with fever, but, this morning he asked to play, and this shows that the players want to bring this club to where it belongs."

Leicester's predicament appears increasingly hopeless, beaten for the 12th time in 13 league matches and six points adrift of safety.

"I get good at this after games. A good performance on and off the ball, everything was there, and I think the players deserved more," Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said.

"We came away with a penalty save to go in 0-0 at halftime. It's the kind of luck you need sometimes to turn things around.

"Lots of positives again, but we have to take the blow of taking nothing from the game."

AFP