Chelsea Not Ready for Title Challenge – Maresca

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said his team is not ready to fight for the Premier League title, despite their good start to the season.

The Blues have lost only two of their 12 league matches so far, falling to reigning champions Manchester City and current leaders Liverpool. Chelsea are nine points behind Liverpool, sitting on 22 points, the same as Arsenal and Brighton, but ahead on goal difference.

Maresca acknowledged the team’s progress but stressed the need for patience as they continue to grow and improve.

“I enjoy the pressure and would love to say, ‘Yes, we’re title contenders,’ but we’re not there yet,” Maresca said. “It’s great to see the team improving, but we must be realistic and see the gap between us and the top teams.”

He explained that continuity has been key for other top clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

“Arsenal has been together for five years with Mikel Arteta, City for over eight years with Pep Guardiola, and Liverpool haven’t made many changes. That’s the difference,” he said, according to Reuters.

Maresca also praised Aston Villa and their manager Unai Emery for their strong performances this season.

“Villa has a top manager. They are doing amazing things with good players. Emery is very intense, and I know him well from Sevilla. Our game against them will be tough,” he added.

Chelsea fans may need to wait longer to see their team challenge for the title, but Maresca remains optimistic about their steady progress.