Maresca: "The owners of Chelsea do not expect me to compete for the Champions League or win the Premier League"

Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca has shared his insights on the team's objectives for the current season.

«Our goal at this moment is to improve the players and understand what we can enhance. The owners have simply asked us to elevate the standard of both the players and the team — there is no expectation for us to compete for the Premier League title or the Champions League this season.

I feel fortunate with the team and the players, but at the same time I am relieved that I am not required to win the Premier League or secure a Champions League spot. This club won the Champions League three years ago but then finished 12th and later sixth. So, competing for top honours this season is unrealistic.

I believe we can build something significant over time — it will take months, even years. Then we can fight for trophies again. This is not a process in which we can suddenly begin competing right now. We differ from Manchester City and Arsenal in that City has had the same manager for 8 or 9 years, while Arsenal has had theirs for 4-5 years. Chelsea has been working with a new coach for only two months. I think that's the most important distinction,» Maresca told the Evening Standard.

After two rounds of the Premier League, Chelsea sits in eighth place in the table, having earned three points.