Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is confident that his expensively rebuilt team will soon be able to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title. Maresca, who was hired from Leicester City during the off-season, is Chelsea’s sixth manager in a tumultuous period since Todd Boehly’s consortium purchased the club in 2022.
The Blues ended last season 28 points behind champions Manchester City and have experienced significant upheaval this summer as Boehly embarked on a major spending spree, leaving Maresca with an overinflated squad.
After guiding Leicester to promotion from the Championship last season, the 44-year-old Italian is set for a challenging Premier League debut as Chelsea face City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with City aiming for their fifth consecutive title. Despite the tough start, Maresca, who was previously part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at City before his stint with Leicester, believes Chelsea can pose a serious challenge to his former boss if given the time.
“For me, my personal opinion, the big difference in this moment between us and other teams that are dominating English football, is just a matter of time,” Maresca told reporters on Friday.
“Clubs that have worked with the same manager nine years, eight years. We’re working with the same manager for one month.
“For sure with time, we are going to close the gap. Hopefully it can happen very soon.”
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of last season, following in the footsteps of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, who also struggled to meet the high expectations set by Todd Boehly. Now, Boehly hopes that Enzo Maresca can replicate the success Mikel Arteta achieved with Arsenal after his time working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
To support Maresca, Boehly has invested heavily, bringing in 10 new players at a total cost of £185 million ($238 million), which has expanded the squad to 43 players.
“I’m completely confident that this team is improving with each game. Given time, we will close the gap on City, Arsenal, and other teams dominating English football,” Maresca said.
“I’m quite confident and relaxed in terms of time, because I can see that the team is improving. It’s the only thing that I can control.”
Chelsea’s England midfielder Conor Gallagher, whose proposed move to Atletico Madrid stalled this week, has been training separately from the squad and will not be considered for selection.
The 24-year-old’s move is in limbo after Chelsea’s contract negations with Atletico striker Samu Omorodion reach an impasse.
“Conor is back, he’s training in this moment a little bit apart,” Maresca said.
“He won’t be involved (against City) because, you know better than me, he’s trying to find a solution with the club. We’ll see what happens.
“Hopefully for Conor, his situation is going to finish where the player, the club, the manager, all the people involved are going to be happy.”
