Chelsea not in English Premier League title race, says Enzo Maresca
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has played down expectations that the Blues are ready to win the Premier League this season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – Enzo Maresca does not believe his Chelsea side are in the English Premier League title race, despite an impressive start to the season in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Victory over Aston Villa at home on Dec 1 would be a seventh win in 13 league games under the Italian, who was appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor in June.
Ahead of the clash, Chelsea were fourth in the table, level on 22 points with Arsenal, who could leapfrog them should they beat West Ham United on Nov 30. The result of that match was unavailable at press time.
The Blues, who are nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool, have won twice and drawn twice since losing to the Reds on Oct 20.
They are in the hunt to return to the Champions League after two seasons away and Maresca has fashioned an effective team from a bloated squad.
But the 44-year-old Italian was keen to play down suggestions that his side could be the one to end City’s four-year title streak this season.
“No,” he said, when asked whether they were in the title race.
“I said many times I didn’t like the pressure. I don’t like to say ‘Yes we are there’ but we are not there.
“Arsenal are ahead of us, City is ahead of us, Liverpool showing they are ahead of us. The important thing is we improve game after game and then we will see.
“For me, it is not about points or the table, it is about the process. Five years together (Arsenal), nine together (City). Liverpool is different but they didn’t make too many changes from before. It’s not about the points difference on the table, it is about the time together.”
Liverpool and City are meeting on Dec 1, giving Chelsea the chance to make up ground on the teams above them but Maresca also urged caution.
“You have to be realistic. You can see the difference between us and the rest in this moment. It doesn’t mean we are not going to compete and win games. We will do that to the end. The main focus has to be the feeling we are improving game after game,” he added.
Maresca played for Sevilla from 2005 to 2009, about four years before current Villa boss Unai Emery took charge of the La Liga club and led them to three Europa League titles.
He heaped praise on the Spaniard, who was appointed by Villa in October 2022 and helped the Birmingham-based side qualify for the Champions League by finishing fourth in the Premier League last season.
“Villa have a top manager, they are doing fantastic. I know Emery from Sevilla and I know how intense they are. They are showing fantastic things with very good players. It will be a tough game,” he said.
Villa, three points back, are winless in seven consecutive matches in all competitions and Emery has urged his side to “keep going”.
“Now, we are going to face Chelsea. Of course, difficult, and those three points will be very important,” the 53-year-old said.
“The most important thing is to try to build our team, to feel comfortable and strong and try to correct some mistakes we are doing.” AFP, REUTERS
