Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his team’s progress following their thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Tottenham but cautioned that they remain a work in progress compared to their Premier League title rivals. The Blues, now sitting second in the table, are just four points behind leaders Liverpool, though the Reds have a game in hand due to the postponement of their match against Everton.
Maresca, who took charge in the summer after Mauricio Pochettino led Chelsea to a sixth-place finish last season, acknowledged that his squad is exceeding expectations. “We are ahead of my expectation,” Maresca admitted after Sunday’s match. “In terms of the way we play on the ball, off the ball, and in terms of the results.”
The match against Tottenham showcased Chelsea’s resilience as they clawed back from a two-goal deficit, with Spurs’ early goals coming after Marc Cucurella lost his footing twice. The Spanish left-back even changed his boots after the second goal, a moment that Maresca wryly referenced. “Arsenal, [Manchester] City, and Liverpool probably don’t slide – like Cucurella did,” he joked, before striking a more serious tone.
Despite their strong position, Maresca is tempering expectations about a title push. “To be serious, we are not ready. We are far from these teams,” he explained. “But we focus on day-to-day improvement and trying to grow as a team.”
Maresca’s approach emphasizes relentless competition within the squad. “The plan or the idea is to not let the players slow down,” he said. “They cannot drop because they know another player is waiting to come in.”
Chelsea’s resurgence under Maresca has brought optimism to Stamford Bridge, but the Italian is determined to keep his players grounded as they aim to build toward consistent success in the Premier League.
