Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea would be the crew 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 season from Leicester, thinks it’s too early of their improvement for Chelsea to keep up a title problem between now and Could however says the make-up of the squad means they may grow to be the crew to beat over the following decade.
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He stated: “I’ve stated, to be within the title race is sweet strain for me and for the gamers. It’s not the sort of strain that you simply don’t like. It’s the sort of strain you want since you are within the title race.
“But it surely’s not our case [this season]. Hopefully quickly we might be there.”
He added: “The great factor is that I nonetheless assume what I stated to the homeowners 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 crew, that’s going to dominate English soccer.
“That is what I stated to the membership the primary time I met them, irrespective 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 best path.”
We’re forward of expectations – Maresca
Maresca inherited a multitude 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 taking part in 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 most effective feeling I’ve is that there are various issues we are able to do higher and we’re [going] in the best path.”
Southampton might be no pushovers
On paper, a visit to rock-bottom Southampton needs to be a routine project however Maresca described the sport as Chelsea’s “hardest of the season thus far”.
He stated: “We have to be prepared in any other case will probably be a foul day for us and the rationale why is as a result of, should you analyse the outcomes, they’re there, however when it comes to efficiency, they had been successful towards Liverpool, they misplaced 1-0 towards [Manchester] Metropolis, they drew the final sport towards Brighton.
“The way in which they’ve performed since final yr – once I was within the Championship – I do know them fairly effectively. They’re very courageous and it’s very clear what they need; they need to maintain the ball and we would like the identical.
“It will likely be a tricky, 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 offer any extra information however admitted the Frenchman can be lacking for a while.
“We don’t have any replace for the time being, up till two days in the past, so we have to wait slightly 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 now we have totally different gamers that may play there.
“For certain, it’s an enormous loss as a result of Wes was doing implausible each sport, however we have to settle for it and discover a answer.”