Despite Chelsea’s second-place finish in the Premier League, manager Enzo Maresca downplayed any discussion of title pressure, saying on Tuesday that he is only concerned with his team’s potential for improvement.
Chelsea, who are currently four points behind Liverpool in first position, will host Fulham on Thursday in a West London rivalry.
After a goalless draw with Everton over the weekend, which also ended Chelsea’s record of eight consecutive victories across all competitions and five consecutive Premier League victories, Maresca’s team was denied the chance to take the lead.
“We are ahead of our expectation in terms of the way we are playing and points.
” For us, the main focus is to see how we can improve the players and how we can improve the team,” Maresca told reporters.
“It’s the reality for me, not about the pressure (of going for the title). I would like that kind of pressure.
“I say we are not there because that is the reality for me. The main point is to continue to improve and to win games.”
Even though Chelsea is now eight points ahead of seventh-place struggling reigning champions Manchester City, Maresca said Pep Guardiola’s team might still win the championship.
“It’s almost halfway so the table reflects the teams and where they are. Liverpool are doing fantastic since the first day,” Maresca said.
“…I think Manchester City in the end will be there.
They are living something that probably never happened before. They have a new injury at the end of every game. It is a very bad situation.”
Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, two Chelsea defenders, are out due to chronic injuries.
Romeo Lavia, a midfielder, will also miss Thursday’s game since he is still healing from a thigh ailment, according to Maresca.
Following a negative analytical result in an anti-doping test, Mykhailo Mudryk has been suspended. The Ukrainian has denied intentionally ingesting any prohibited drugs.
