Maresca said he told his players at half-time to continue to try to play through West Ham in the hope their intensity would fade as the game wore on, and the plan was vindicated when, 10 minutes after Neto’s goal, defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka deflected Cole Palmer’s ball into his own net to settle it.
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto said patience was key to the comeback win against West Ham that moved them into the Premier League top four.
“We kept to our plan, remained patient and got the goals to win the game,” said Neto.
The win moved Chelsea above Manchester City after the champions’ chastening 5-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, and tentatively revived their Champions League challenge following a poor run.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 64th minute, substitute Neto knocking in his second league goal for the club and the first since he scored to rescue a point against Arsenal in November.
