As Chelsea gears up for their highly anticipated Premier League face-off with Arsenal, manager Enzo Maresca believes his team is ready to challenge “any team.” With Chelsea currently sitting just above Arsenal in the league standings, Maresca is optimistic about his squad’s progress as they head into Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s season so far has seen its ups and downs, but a recent 8-0 win over Armenian side Noah in the Conference League on Thursday has given the team a confidence boost. Maresca, in his first season at Chelsea, is determined to build on this momentum. “In this moment the feeling from us is that we can compete and we can win against any team,” he shared, highlighting the importance of consistency and focus.
However, Maresca acknowledges that Arsenal, despite their recent struggles with only one point in the last three league matches, is a formidable opponent. He considers Arsenal and Manchester City as two of the top teams, noting the stability they’ve gained from their long-term managers, Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola. “Both, I consider them better than the rest,” he said, pointing to the advantages these clubs hold due to managerial continuity.
Sunday’s match marks the first competitive meeting between Maresca and Arteta, both of whom previously served as assistants to Guardiola at Manchester City. Reflecting on this shared background, Maresca commented, “Probably we both have to be thankful because we worked beside the one that I consider the best manager in the world.”
For Chelsea, the potential absence of star player Cole Palmer is a concern. Maresca is hopeful that Palmer will be fit enough to join the team for Saturday’s training, giving them an extra boost before the match. “Hopefully we can have him for the (training) session at least Saturday and then we’ll take a decision,” he stated.
With Chelsea currently holding fourth place in the league, the stakes are high for Maresca and his squad. Confident but realistic, Maresca remains focused on his team’s growth, expressing optimism about Chelsea’s ability to compete at the top level. “The good thing is that we are there, and you cannot see a big difference when we play this kind of game,” he added.
