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Chelsea<\/b><\/a> manager Enzo Maresca insisted that speculation around his future would not distract his squad before facing <\/b>Newcastle<\/b><\/a> – but that was not how it looked for 45 minutes on Saturday.<\/b><\/p>\n Even before kick-off, Maresca appeared to question Chelsea<\/a>‘s focus on buying only youth, suggesting having more experienced players is “invaluable”.<\/p>\n The Blues then did not get going at St James’ Park, a ground where they had lost 15 times in the Premier League era, and found themselves 2-0 down through a pair of first-half goals from striker Nick Woltemade.<\/p>\n So poor was the first half that Chelsea<\/a> gave up an expected goals figure of 1.97 – their worst in a first 45 minutes for more than two years. They were error-prone at the back, wasteful in possession, out battled and failed to register a shot on target.<\/p>\n The lack of performance was staggering given Chelsea<\/a> had produced an accomplished display when beating Everton<\/a> at home last weekend. That form was more in evidence after the break as they roared back through an outstanding 25-yard free-kick from Reece James and a brilliant individual goal from Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n Despite the improvement by Chelsea<\/a> they were still reliant on a key call going their way as Newcastle<\/a> controversially saw penalty shouts waved away moments before Pedro equalised when Trevoh Chalobah clattered into Anthony Gordon in the box.<\/p>\n It felt at times that Maresca’s post-match comments from last week – in which he said “many people” had caused his “worst 48 hours” since joining the club – were continuing to impact the players.<\/p>\n Since those comments, the Italian had been linked with Manchester City<\/a> – speculation he labelled “100 per cent” unfounded – and had his relationship with the hierarchy continually to be questioned.<\/p>\n He also offered some thoughts on the make-up of his squad prior to the match that suggested he would welcome a bit more experience.<\/p>\n Earlier in the week, he said: “I love the squad, I love young players” and before kick-off he told TNT: “I’m very happy. I just focus on what I can control – pitch-side – knowing that there is always noise you need to manage.”<\/p>\n However, he then added: “When you have 20 and 21-year-olds and a player who is 30 or 31, and he starts to say something to them, it’s invaluable. But it’s the strategy of the club.”<\/p>\n Was this just another example of Maresca lowering expectations and highlighting what part of the project was in his control? <\/p>\n He was also fighting for the players, even earning a booking for dissent in the second half as they managed a creditable fightback.<\/p>\n This was only the fourth time in the Premier League that Chelsea<\/a> avoided defeat having been two or more goals down at half-time. Ultimately both teams had chances to win in an entertaining end to the match. <\/p>\n Yet, despite Maresca showing his commitment, it remains an open question whether this ongoing power struggle could affect Chelsea<\/a>‘s players going forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n