Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca believes his team has exceeded expectations this season but insists their Premier League rivals at the top of the table are unlikely to falter.
His comments came after Chelsea staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday, overturning a two-goal deficit. Both of Spurs’ early goals came following slips by Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, who later switched his boots after the second goal.
Maresca, who took charge at Chelsea during the summer, succeeded Mauricio Pochettino, who guided the team to a sixth-place finish last season. Now, Chelsea find themselves in second place, just four points behind league leaders Liverpool. However, Liverpool still have a game in hand after their weekend match against Everton was postponed due to Storm Darragh.
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Reflecting on the team’s progress, Maresca admitted he has been pleasantly surprised. “We are ahead of what I expected,” he said after the comeback win. “That’s true both in how we play with and without the ball, and in the results we’ve achieved.”
Despite their position, the Italian manager doesn’t believe Chelsea are ready to mount a serious title challenge. “Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool are unlikely to slip up—unlike Marc Cucurella,” he joked, referencing the left-back’s mishap during the game.
Turning serious, Maresca added: “We’re not at the level of those teams yet. We’re far from it. But our focus is on improving step by step, day by day. The key is maintaining intensity because the players know they can’t let up—there’s always someone else ready to step in.”
