Game by game for Chelsea as Enzo Maresca calls for ‘desire’ to win League Cup
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s men are currently ninth in the league.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted that he will not belittle the League Cup, as he prepares his side for their fourth-round clash at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Oct 29.
The Blues are seeking to bounce back from a disappointing loss last weekend in the Premier League, when they lost 2-1 to Sunderland in stoppage time at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca’s men are currently ninth in the league, and they had been on a four-game winning streak in all competitions before the loss to the Black Cats.
For now, though, the focus is all on the League Cup.
“Three games from the final, we need to have the desire to play for that,” said Maresca. “We need to go game by game. The first one is Wolves tomorrow, and hopefully we can win the game and move on to the next one.
“I try to focus game by game, no matter which competition it is and go as far as we can. I think for Chelsea, all the competitions are important. Chelsea has to try and win games, try to win competitions. For me, personally, I think all of the competitions are important.”
Regaining momentum is key and the odds are in Chelsea’s favour.
They won 3-1 when the two teams last met at Stamford Bridge in January, and the Blues also beat Wolves 6-0 in their last meeting in the League Cup in September 2012.
Maresca’s side defeated Lincoln City 2-1 in the third round of the League Cup, and they will face a slightly stronger side on Oct 29, but the manager will also have an eye on the big Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur on Nov 1.
“We need to rotate, we need to protect players. If we go with the same XI, we will struggle through the season. We are probably going to make some changes, I don’t know how many, but we will make changes,” the Italian added.
Being a Premier League side, Wolves are no pushovers but they are struggling this season with only two points from their first nine matches and are bottom of the league.
They head into this match on the back of a 3-2 defeat by Burnley. However, they have defeated West Ham United and Everton to get to this stage.
Despite Chelsea beating them in January, Wolves have actually won three of their last five matches against the Blues in all competitions.
Manager Vitor Pereira had called for unity at the Molineux after confronting furious fans following the Burnley loss.
“We understand the frustration of the supporters but what I must say, if we fight united with them, we can win games and compete and achieve our targets. Without them, it is impossible,” he said.
Elsewhere, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is upbeat about the long-term future of Micky van de Ven with the club, despite reported interest in the Dutch defender from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The centre-back scored twice in last weekend’s 3-0 win at Everton to take his tally for the season to five goals in 13 appearances, with Spurs now third in the table – five points behind leaders Arsenal.
The 24-year-old has become a leading figure in the absence of injured club captain Cristian Romero and could lead the side out again in the League Cup match at holders Newcastle United on Oct 29.
Frank was relaxed about keeping hold of van de Ven, who joined Spurs on a six-year deal in 2023.
“He has been brilliant for the club since he signed and he has taken some steps up this season,” he said.
“I think he actually defends even better. He is still very good on the ball, he added the goals and the headed goals, which I am very happy with. He’s a threat from set pieces. Character and leadership also growing and... a player I see with a big future at the club.”
The other all-Premier League fixtures in the League Cup on Oct 29 will see Arsenal hosting Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool welcoming Crystal Palace to Anfield.
Manchester City, meanwhile, travel to Championship side Swansea. AFP, REUTERS
