Enzo Maresca has declared that Chelsea face three "Premier League finals" before he goes head-to-head with his "professional dad" Manuel Pellegrini in the UEFA Conference League final. The Blues boss determined to cap off a rollercoaster season by overcoming Real Betis for the inaugural silverware of the post-Roman Abramovich era on May 28.
The Italian tactician has laid down the gauntlet for the 2021 Champions League victors to secure their spot in next season's elite European competition by triumphing in their remaining trio of league fixtures, starting with this Sunday's showdown at Newcastle. Chelsea secured their fifth consecutive win in all competitions by defeating Swedish side Djurgarden in the Conference League semi-finals on Thursday night with a team that saw 10 changes. They are set to play again at midday on Sunday.
"It's not the ideal situation," admitted Maresca. "It's first thing in the morning, but we need to play the game and hopefully we can continue our good moment."
Real Betis will be playing their first ever European final, but Pellegrini - and Manchester United loanee Antony - are familiar faces. Maresca worked under the former Manchester City boss for two years at Malaga and later served as his assistant at West Ham.
"He is one of my professional dads," the Blues boss revealed. "He's honest, he's a good person, he always tries to be honest with the player. And I try, personally, I try to learn a lot about his way.
Maresca also has experience with the fervour of football in southern Spain, having played for Real Betis' local rivals. "I played four years for Sevilla, that is a big derby against Betis," he recalled. "We also won the derby 1-0, and I scored a goal. I know that they don't like me, they don't love me.
"I met my wife in Seville, she's from Seville. My first son was born in Seville. I played for Seville, but no doubt that I want to win the final."
"We have 20 days to prepare for the final," the Italian coach asserted. "Before that we have three more Premier League finals and hopefully we can finish in the right way. Newcastle is a big one, it's a huge one. Then Manchester United will be a big one, Nottingham Forest will be a big one.
"All of them are going to be big games. For sure, Sunday is a chance to start in the right way. The players need to be focused on the Newcastle game because it's the next one and for us, it has to be like thinking that it's the last game of the season, give everything and then we'll see at the end."
Locked in a fierce battle, Chelsea and Newcastle stand neck-and-neck with 63 points apiece and an identical goal difference of plus 21. Both sides boast a win against each other this term, with Alexander Isak netting in both encounters - Chelsea's 2-1 home league victory and Newcastle's Carabao Cup triumph at St James' Park.
"I think Isaac is a top player but stopping him is not enough," Maresca conceded. "There are more players so we need to work as a team and we need to stop them as a team. We need more players so we need to work as a team and we need to stop them as a team