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The new Chelsea manager is refusing to get caught up in talk of a potential Premier League title charge.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has piled the pressure on Arsenal and Liverpool, insisting that the Blues' Premier League rivals are the only other two teams in the title race against Manchester City this season.
It's been an impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge for the former Leicester City boss. Maresca has only lost two of his opening 13 Premier League fixtures with Chelsea sitting third in the table at this early stage.
The London outfit are level on points with second-place Arsenal and two points ahead of Champions Manchester City, who are in fifth.
Despite having finished sixth last season, the strong start to the new campaign has seen many tip Chelsea as potential title contenders. Liverpool have emerged as early frontrunners after a blistering start to the campaign, already nine points clear at the summit of the table, with Man City and Arsenal the only other clubs that may have been tipped to raise the trophy before a ball was kicked this season.
Arsenal and Man City managers Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola.Arsenal and Man City managers Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal and Man City managers Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Speaking at his press conference ahead of this week's trip to Southampton, Maresca refused to allow his side's name to become involved in talk of a title charge. Given that the Blues are level on points with Arsenal, the Chelsea boss was asked if he saw the Gunners as contenders.
He said: "Absolutely, yeah. They have been there is the last two years, very close to Man City. We have not been there.
"They were very, very close to City. Liverpool they have been there, we have not there. Hopefully soon we could be there."
Maresca - ‘Chelsea can dominate English football’
Chelsea last won a Premier League title under Antonio Conte in 2017. In 2023, the club finished 12th in what was their lowest position since 1994 before improving to sixth in 2024. Maresca had been tasked with getting the club competing for the title again and has exceeded expectations with the speed of improvement.
He said: "For sure, I still consider it a big job. But this doesn't mean that because it's a big job, you're not doing the right things. We're ahead of my expectations in the way we are playing, in terms of results. There are many things we can do better.
"In the next five, ten years, because of the age, Chelsea can be one of the sides that dominate English football. I think we are in the right direction and in terms of personal target, I know from outside you struggle to believe. I'm focused about Southampton, but I'm not focused about end of the season."
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