EPL: Chelsea Not in Title Race, Insists Head Coach Enzo Maresca

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has downplayed the team's title aspirations, focusing instead on improvement and progress.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has downplayed the team's title aspirations, despite their impressive third-place standing in the Premier League table. Maresca emphasized that his young squad is focused on continuous improvement, rather than getting caught up in the title race.

Chelsea's solid performance in the league is evident in their record, having lost only two of their 12 matches. Notably, those defeats came at the hands of reigning champions Manchester City and current leaders Liverpool. The Blues currently trail Liverpool by nine points, a gap that Maresca's team will look to narrow as the season progresses.

Asked if they were in the title race, he said: “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,” he told reporters ahead of Sunday's game with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

“It's nice to see the team improving, that is important; it is nice, a good feeling.

“At the same time, you need to be realistic and you can see the difference between us and the rest at the moment.

“This doesn't mean we're not going to win games and not compete until the end, but the main focus has to be the feeling we're improving game after game.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has tempered expectations despite his team's impressive third-place standing in the Premier League. Maresca emphasized that his young side is not focused on the title race, instead prioritizing improvement with each match.

The West London club has demonstrated resilience, having lost only two of their 12 league games. Those defeats came against formidable opponents, reigning champions Manchester City and current leaders Liverpool, who Chelsea trail by nine points. Chelsea's position is further complicated by the tight competition, as they are level on 22 points with fourth-placed Arsenal and fifth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, although they hold a better goal difference.

Maresca, who took the reins at Chelsea in June after leading Leicester City to the Championship title in his first season, views his current team as a work in progress. Despite their promising start, Maresca remains focused on developing his young squad and is cautious about making bold predictions about their title chances.

“Arsenal is five years together (with manager Mikel Arteta), City more than eight years together (under Pep Guardiola), Liverpool is a bit different but they didn't make many changes from the past. This is the reason.

“It's not about points or difference in the table, it's just the time together.”

Liverpool underwent a significant change in the close season, replacing long-serving manager Jurgen Klopp with Arne Slot after nearly nine years at the helm.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has a connection to Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, having played for Sevilla from 2005-2009. Although their tenures at the LaLiga club did not overlap, Maresca has expressed admiration for Emery's accomplishments. Emery took charge of Sevilla around four years after Maresca's departure and went on to lead the team to three Europa League titles.

Maresca has praised Emery's impressive work at Aston Villa, where he was appointed in October 2022. Under Emery's guidance, Villa secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, earning a spot in the Champions League.

“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,” Maresca said.