Chelsea coach Enza Mariska spoke to the press after qualifying for the English League Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City.

The coach said in his speech: "I am very happy, especially with the players' efforts. I said yesterday that the schedule is full of these tough matches, so we have to stay focused, and we did."

He added: "Our performance without the ball was good, but we had difficulty creating chances with the ball. Our performance improved a lot in the second half."

He continued: "There was a big difference between the first and second halves in terms of attacking style. Cardiff was good, organized, and active without the ball. But in the end, I believe we did enough to win the match."

He pointed out: "Their goal was an individual effort. We could have defended better at that moment, but they tried to attack and score, and unfortunately, we conceded a goal."

Regarding trust in the substitutes, he said: "I trust all the players, although I know it can be difficult for some. Tonight, Bonanotte and Marci played a lot, even though they haven't played much recently, and that's not easy for them. However, they put in a great effort, and we were better at maintaining possession in the second half."

He continued: "We are moving in the right direction, and everything I do is because I want the best for everyone – the fans, the players, and everyone else."

And whether he feels supported within the club: "Our focus tonight must be on reaching the semifinals. The fans' support has always been there, but the most important thing tonight is our victory and advancing to the semifinals."

He concluded, "We are now in the semifinals, and we will wait for tomorrow's matches to see what the next step is to reach the final, and we hope to get there."