Enzo Maresca discussed the meaning of the next phase of matches for Chelsea.
The Blues have been an inconsistent outfit in their performances in the Premier League and Champions League with setbacks that include a 2-2 draw against Qarabag, and back-to-back defeats against **Man United**and **Brighton**with dismissals in domestic competition. Yet, they sit second in the table, ahead of Man City, and have bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich with seven points in their next three European fixtures, having defeated **Benfica**1-0 and **Ajax**5-1 in previous matchdays.
Now, the team can show how much they have developed since their showdown with the Bavarians. They host Barcelona, semi-finalists in the Champions League, at Stamford Bridge before the visit of league leading Arsenal, who thrashed **Tottenham**4-1 on the weekend. The pressure to perform is on for this young group of players, and Maresca wants the side to show that they are ready for these occasions as the critics continue to wonder when **Chelsea**will see a true return on their investment.
“It's a big week, as you said, but at the end of this week, then we have Leeds away, Bournemouth away, Atalanta away, so it's another big one. It's always a big week, they are all important games, at the end of every game is three points, for sure there are games like Barcelona [Tuesday] and Arsenal Sunday that are important for different reasons, but actually the best thing for us is to win the game.
“Personally I think we are a better team compared to the day we played Bayern away, but every game is different, Barcelona use different weapons to attack, also different weapons to defend, so it will be a completely different game, but for me personally the team is getting better day after day.”