Enzo Maresca surprisingly rules Chelsea OUT of the title race
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted that his team is not in the Premier League title race this season, despite impressive form.
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Enzo Maresca insisted that his side Chelsea is out of the title race this season. (via X)
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca once again insisted that the Blues are not in the Premier League title race this season, and are solely concentrating on improvements. These claims come despite the club currently sitting in fourth position on the EPL table.
The Blues have enjoyed a upsurge in form since Enzo Maresca’s arrival from Leicester City this summer. He has led a young Chelsea side from being average performers, to title contenders. They are currently in fourth position on the table, with 22 points from 12 matches, having lost just twice. The Blues trail league-leaders Liverpool by nine points, and could jump to the second spot if they win their next match against Aston Villa. They are also in the hunt to make a return to the UCL next summer, after a two season slump.
Despite having made rapid progress, manager Enzo Maresca suggested that his team is very much a work in progress. While brushing aside claims of Chelsea being title contenders, the 44-year-old clearly stated that he likes the pressure in the early stages of his tenure. He reiterated the team’s focus on improving, and highlighted the difference between the Blues and the other title challengers, including Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal. This is not the first time that Maresca has made such an admission.
No. I said it many times. I really like the pressure. I’d like to say: Yes, we’re there – but we’re not there… You need to be realistic and you can see the difference between us and the rest at the moment.
Enzo Maresco to reporters (H/T Bein Sports)
?? Enzo Maresca: “No, we are NOT in a title race, I already said this… we are not there”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 29, 2024
“Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal are ahead of us”. pic.twitter.com/EAqL4XsJEV
The Blues are now on an eight-match unbeaten run, and would hope to extend it against Aston Villa, following which they face Southampton and Tottenham. Chelsea have also improved in terms of goal-scoring, and are only behind Spurs and Liverpool, with 23 goals till now.
Ex-Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri makes surprising prediction about Enzo Mareca and his future
Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a brilliant start to life at Chelsea, having won 12 out of 20 matches in all competitions this season. He is the seventh Italian manager to have taken charge of the club, following in the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri.
Sarri, who had managed Chelsea between 2018 and 2019, expressed his admiration for the 44-year-old manager, who is currently at the helm. In a recent interview, he boldly predicted that Maresca could become one of the best managers in Europe. Sarri also highlighted his records in Italy and England. He termed Maresca as an ‘international coach’, and praised his work at Chelsea.
He is a very young coach. We have to wait I think but at the moment the work at Chelsea is going well. He has the possibility to become one of the best in Europe.
Maurizio Sarri on Enzo Maresca (via The Sun)
Not just Sarri, but former Premier League players, Paul Scholes and Ian Wright also admitted that they were erratic in doubting Enzo Maresca’s abilities. The Italian surely has a long way to go with the team, but has already revived the positivity among the players.
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Siddhartha Roy
(700 Articles Published)