Enzo Maresca opened up to the media about how he has been preparing for the Club World Cup. **Chelsea**clash with **LAFC**in their first game of the group and he has instructed his squad "we are not going to preseason." It is clear in his eyes how he wants to build on the foundation of the last year.
‘If you don't prepare in the right way, you can be in trouble’
**Chelsea**are coming into this tournament on a high: they were the only club in the 'Big Six' to beat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, gaining three points to put them back in the Champions League for the first time since 2022. Then came the completion of the continental set with a 4-1 win in the Conference League final over Real Betis. This competition could top off a successful season.
“For me, I said since we started, I don't like to see success after three or four months. For me success is to try to win the first game against Los Angeles. Success is winning games. The season 24/25 I think we achieve something important. We finished top four, we won the European competition that we were in and now that is done, finished, and we need to be focused on this competition that we are in now.”
After a long nine months of club football, members of elite squads look forward to a time of rest. But the brutality of the schedule has taken on a new notch of intensity: the Club World Cup arrives at the tail end of the campaign. However, the Italian indicated that he is taking this task very seriously.
*“The first thing I said and the main message I said since we see each other has been we are not going for preseason. It’s a big tournament. After the Club World Cup, I think the players need at least three four weeks off to recharge their energy otherwise it's impossible to do the right things next season.”*
This is not just any random piece of silverware: the club have pride to protect on the global stage.
The Blues bettered **Palmeiras**in extra time to win the last edition of the **Club World Cup**at the start of 2022. They now return to this stage with an expanded format for 32 clubs— 12 of which belong to Europe. Maresca mentioned how all of the competitors will be getting used to these differences.
“It is something new we said already many times that it is a new competition. It is a new one for us, it is new for all the clubs that we are here, and we see during the season also how we adapt but we are here and when we are going to finish this competition, we have days to rest and to recover energy.”
He hopes to get off to a good start against a club that are keen to compete with one of the best in the Premier League. It is the sort of occasion the 45-year-old has managed many times during this year.
*“In the Conference League, the difficult thing was to convince the players that for the other team, this was the game of the season So, if you don't prepare in the right way, you can be in trouble. We have a game where if we are not ready if we are not prepared can be in trouble, so we need to prepare for them 100%. No matter the other team, when you are Chelsea players, you need to win games.”*
‘He can be the England number nine’
Teams will take different approaches to tackling their squad management for the Club World Cup. Notably, Maresca has had no intention of bringing back members of the 'bomb squad' into his plans.
*“Here with us are players that were with us last season apart from Jadon Sancho. The rest were not with us. Some left last summer, some left in January. I do not see the reason why they have to be here with us. It’s not complicated, my idea was clear. The ones here and not here was a simple decision.”*
In his eyes, he sees continuity in the **Club World Cup**as a part of the campaign just gone. However, he is aware that he must not put too much physical strain on his side in the summer heat of America.
“This tournament for me belongs still to this season, 24/25. Since we started, we always try to change game by game. But we need to change because to be able to play every three days and it's impossible with this temperature to play always the same players. So, for sure, we are going to rotate players.”
The manager then made clear his thoughts about players who are topics of discussion around the club.
**Chelsea**cooled off interest in Mike Maignan, who has excelled as the guardian of the goal for AC Milan and France. His arrival would have signalled the end of the first choice role as the goalkeeper for Robert Sanchez, but Maresca seems to be sticking faithfully to the Spaniard in the meantime.
“The situation about the keepers for me is quite easy and quite simple. Robert is the number one. Then we have Filip that is the number two. Penders join us and we're going to see him over the next weeks, analyse and judge him and then we're going to take a final decision. For the rest, Maignan or different players that are not with us and are with other clubs, it is not worth talking about them.”
Fans have had a glance at Estevao, who played for **Palmeiras**in a 0-0 draw with Porto. The winger will join the Blues next month and his new boss believes his position is one in need of reinforcement.
“Jadon is not with us. For sure that is a position that probably we need to do something also because as you already know Mudryk is not with us. So, in this moment, we have Noni, Pedro and Tyrique as proper wingers. So, for sure something is going to happen. We said many times when the window transfer is open anything can happen to bring players or to sell players. But we will wait and see.”
Maresca also talked about his time with new striker **Liam Delap**and his happiness at his signature.
“We won for the first time in the history of Manchester City the under 23 competition. He scored 24, 25 goals that season. He knows exactly what we can give him to him. I know what Liam can give us.”
The central forward fired a penalty home and assisted Omari Hutchinson in a 2-0 triumph for the Tractor Boys over **Chelsea**at the end of 2024. Despite relegation, he scored 12 times last term in the league. The signs are positive and Maresca is sure that he can right to the top of the English game.
*“When we faced Ipswich Town, Liam was not a **Chelsea*player, I said he can be England number nine. I'm going to say again that I do not have any doubt that he can be the England number nine.”