Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea would be the group that dominates English soccer over the following 5 to 10 years.
Chelsea head to Southampton tomorrow evening in third place within the Premier League, degree with Arsenal however 9 factors adrift of runaway leaders Liverpool.
Maresca, who joined the Blues over the summer time from Leicester, thinks it’s too early of their growth for Chelsea to keep up a title problem between now and Could however says the make-up of the squad means they may turn into the group to beat over the following decade.
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He stated: “I’ve stated, to be within the title race is good strain for me and for the gamers. It’s not the form of strain that you just don’t like. It’s the form of strain you want since you are within the title race.
“However it’s not our case [this season]. Hopefully quickly we may be there.”
He added: “The great factor is that I nonetheless assume what I stated to the house owners and the sporting director the primary time I met them.
“Due to the age and due to how good the squad is, for me, Chelsea – within the subsequent 5 to 10 years – might be one of many groups, or the group, that’s going to dominate English soccer.
“That is what I stated to the membership the primary time I met them, regardless of who the supervisor might be.
“They didn’t ask me for any targets; the one factor they requested me is to attempt to be, for the following years, one thing essential. I feel we’re [going] in the suitable route.”
We’re forward of expectations – Maresca
Maresca inherited a large number at Stamford Bridge with a bloated squad and off-field points across the possession of the membership. The Italian has labored wonders with Chelsea forward of schedule and impressing in each home and European competitors.
“By way of expectation, we’re forward of my expectation, in the best way we’re enjoying and, for certain, when it comes to outcomes,” he stated.
“We began 4 or 5 months in the past; it’s very, very, very, very early, a short-time collectively. However the very best feeling I’ve is that there are various issues we are able to do higher and we’re [going] in the suitable route.”
Southampton might be no pushovers
On paper, a visit to rock-bottom Southampton ought to be a routine project however Maresca described the sport as Chelsea’s “hardest of the season thus far”.
He stated: “We must be prepared in any other case it is going to be a foul day for us and the explanation why is as a result of, if you happen to analyse the outcomes, they’re there, however when it comes to efficiency, they had been successful in opposition to Liverpool, they misplaced 1-0 in opposition to [Manchester] Metropolis, they drew the final sport in opposition to Brighton.
“The way in which they’ve performed since final 12 months – after I was within the Championship – I do know them fairly nicely. They’re very courageous and it’s very clear what they need; they need to preserve the ball and we would like the identical.
“Will probably be a troublesome, powerful sport.”
No Fofana at St Mary’s
Centre-half Wesley Fofana won’t make the journey to the south coast after limping off throughout Sunday’s win over Aston Villa.
Maresca was unable to supply any extra information however admitted the Frenchman could be lacking for a while.
“We don’t have any replace in the meanwhile, up till two days in the past, so we have to wait a bit of bit and hopefully we are able to get some extra information within the subsequent days,” he stated.
“However, for certain, he might be out for the following weeks.
“Benoit [Badiashile] could possibly be one of many options, however we now have totally different gamers that may play there.
“For certain, it’s an enormous loss as a result of Wes was doing incredible each sport, however we have to settle for it and discover a resolution.”
