Maresca: “I’d rather win 1-0 than 5-3”

According to L'Équipe, Enzo Maresca made his preference for match control very clear. The coach says he would rather secure victory with a 1-0 scoreline than chase a more entertaining outcome like a 5-3.

The point, as framed by the French outlet, is not just the numbers—it’s how he wants his team to behave during a game. For Maresca, winning comes first, and that usually means managing key moments, limiting risks, and capitalising when the chances arrive.

In practical terms, his wording hints at a training focus that often translates into match plans: protecting the game state when the team has the advantage, and avoiding turning the contest into constant open play.

Winning is the goal

With this line, Maresca underlines a results-first approach over pure spectacle—though, of course, football can always force different stories in real time.