Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host an in-form Sunderland side at Stamford Bridge, aiming to extend their impressive run and continue their climb up the table.
The Blues head into the contest on a four-game winnning run and fresh from a 5-1 dismantling of Ajax in the Champions League, where Enzo Maresca’s young side made history as three teenagers found the net in the same European fixture for the first time.
That victory continued an exceptional spell that has seen Chelsea score 11 goals in those last four matches while conceding just twice. Maresca praised his players’ progress but was quick to temper expectations ahead of Sunderland’s visit.
“It’s a Premier League game,” he said in his press conference. “I don’t think there is any game that can be easy. They are all difficult. Sunderland have shown since the season started that they are a very good team who play together and work together. They have the same points as us, so that says a lot about how good they’ve been.”
The Italian is expected to field another youthful lineup, with the squad’s average age the lowest in the Premier League this season. Maresca admitted that managing such a young group requires patience and constant guidance.
“The main thing for me is to help them day by day,” he explained. “They are all good players, but they need to understand how we want to play. If you want to improve the team, you need to improve players first.”
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Among those attracting attention is 18-year-old Estevao Willian, who scored against Ajax after being handed the ball for a penalty by Enzo Fernandez. Maresca hailed the gesture as evidence of growing unity.
“That moment showed how together the team is,” he said. “We were very happy about the win, but the main thing was Enzo giving the penalty to Estevao. It showed the spirit we have right now.”
Marc Guiu could feature again after his own breakthrough performance, though Maresca revealed he had previously challenged the striker’s attitude in training. “He was not training well,” the coach admitted. “We spoke, he changed, and he got his chance. Since then, he’s been fantastic.”
Sunderland, managed by Regis Le Bris, arrive seventh in the table after collecting 14 points from their opening eight matches — their best start to a top-flight campaign in 25 years. The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last 13 away games in London and have shown they can compete with established sides.
Maresca acknowledged that the encounter represents another test of his team’s development. “The challenge is always the same — try to win, knowing the opponent wants the same,” he said. “We know what Sunderland can do, but we also know the level we can reach when we play at our best.”
Chelsea’s momentum, youthful energy, and growing confidence make them clear favourites, yet Maresca’s warning against complacency feels well-timed.
Sunderland’s resilience has surprised many this season, and the Blues will need to sustain their sharpness to secure another step towards the top four.