Enzo Maresca says Chelsea’s jolt of form should not fool fans into thinking they can compete with Manchester City or Arsenal because, according to the 44-year-old Italian, they are ‘not ready’.
Thursday’s 4-2 Conference League win over Gent was their fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, with insiders welcoming the refreshing lack of chaos currently surrounding their club.
Yet ahead of facing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday, Maresca does not want anyone thinking they can be title contenders because that is likelier to take years to achieve.
‘I really don’t think we can compete with City or Arsenal,’ Maresca said. ‘I really don’t think that because we are not ready. The reason is City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal, five years. If you want to compete for big things, you need that time.
‘After Arsenal beat PSG, they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same: that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and us, a year-and-a-half. Now imagine us, three months.
Enzo Maresca doesn't think Chelsea can compete with Manchester City or Arsenal right now
‘It’s a huge difference so I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs. The target is to improve and slowly – slowly – get closer to those clubs. At the moment, we are not ready.’
On Chelsea suddenly carrying an air of calmness, Maresca said: ‘For the first two months we had a lot of noise around the club. The only part I can control is the football side. All the noise is something I cannot control. I don’t know if it is real noise or not. I don’t care, to be honest.’
Maresca’s calm style of coaching has aided Chelsea, with his approach varying from the other Italians we have seen in charge at Stamford Bridge.
‘Maurizio (Sarri) and Carlo (Ancelotti) are different,’ he said. 'I like the way I am. We are all different.’ Smiling, he added: ‘I played for three years as a team-mate with Antonio (Conte) at Juventus and I know how "calm" he is.’
Reece James remains the only Chelsea player sidelined by injury ahead of this weekend as Maresca continued: ‘No matter what the competition, we have to be aware they are difficult games.
'Nottingham Forest has a good manager with a good squad. Beating Liverpool is not easy, especially away. We will prepare our best.
‘You are always going to concede goals in football. But you have to decide in which way. The second one (against Gent) I really didn’t like. The reason is they saw the game was finished so they switched off. We need to improve that.’