Enzo Maresca: 'I'm in love with Wesley Fofana'

Enzo Maresca was full of praise for defender Wesley Fofana after Chelsea's 3-0 win over West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Blues cruised to an impressive win thanks to a brace from Nicolas Jackson and a later strike from Cole Palmer, taking advantage of poor defending from the the Hammers. The result marked yet another Premier League victory for new boss Maresca - who's lost just one game in the league so far this season, against Manchester City.

It was centre-back Fofana that the boss was quick to praise after the game. The French star has started all five of Chelsea's league game this season after missing much of the Blues' campaign last time out.

"Wes is a player that I really love, I am in love with Wes," Maresca told reporters after Saturday's win. "He is doing fantastic after one year injured and, for any player in the world, when you are out for one year and then you come back it is not easy, and he is doing top. This is the only thing we want from him."

Maresca also revealed that his decision to substitute the defender was not because of a worrying injury.

"The reason why we changed him was because we try to protect him a little bit," he continued. "Also he was on a yellow card. It's nothing serious. In the second half they changed [Mohammed] Kudus to his side and probably it was a big risk to keep him, but there is not any injury."

The Blues boss also took the time to praise Jadon Sancho - who made the move from Manchester United to west London at the end of the transfer window.

"Jadon did well, it was exactly what we were expecting from him. He worked off the ball very hard with [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, and also in the second half. Then Pedro [Neto] came on and he did well, so we are happy."

Chelsea return to action on Tuesday when they face Barrow in the Carabao Cup.