**Chelsea**are closer to the standards they have set in the last two decades. Enzo Maresca is the man in whom fans have put their faith, and he is generally happy with his tools. However, he knows that the competition will be fierce: it begins with a "complicated" game against a fellow club from the capital.
‘We need a central defender’
**Chelsea**come into the campaign in a strange situation. They beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the Club World Cup final in the middle of July, throwing off the schedule for their preseason prep.
Wins over Bayer Leverkusen and **AC Milan**maintain momentum, but PSG proved in the UEFA Super Cup that nothing can make up for the weeks of careful conditioning. Only time will tell how the Blues get to grips with the first few weeks of the calendar, and Maresca must be willing to adapt.
“We guess we are ready but we need to for the real competition to verify that. It’s been quite a short break. We're going to try to be ready. It's something new. It's something we don't have the answer because never happened before. For me, the sport scientist, the doctor, it's something new. We don't have the answer. We're going to react to this situation. We need to pay attention to all the details.”
The big absentee for the Blues is Levi Colwill. The Cobham graduate nailed down his starting spot as a central defender last term, but he will be sitting on the sidelines for months with an ACL injury.
“He’s OK, aware that he has to be out a long time. It's a big loss for us: we know how important Levi was last season for the way we want to play. We said many times that we are able to create chances and to attack in the right way if we build in the right way and Levi was a huge part of our buildup.”
The Italian insisted that the board must back him with a newcomer to fill in for the 22-year-old.
“The club know what I think. I think we need a central defender but we look for internal solutions.”
Josh Acheampong can fill in as a central defender, and Jorrel Hato has arrived from **Ajax**for a fee of £35 million as a left back or centre back. But it sounds like he is unwilling to trust either teenager.
“When we build, we beat with the Levi in the middle. It's different to the player in the middle that in the left side. Last year we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin. Now Levi is out. The only one that he can do that job well is Tosin. Jorrel Hato never played making three the guy in the middle last season. It's not about being a central defender: yes he is a central defender but he has to do what he can do.”
Trevoh Chalobah was suffering due to fatigue from the heat against Milan, but he should be back. There is still doubt whether the manager will call on Wesley Fofana, while both Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are working their way back to getting full fitness for the campaign that is ahead.
“Benoit is in the process to come back. Romeo exactly the same. Trev is okay.”
All in all, Maresca cannot moan too much. Joao Pedro and Liam Delap offer different dimensions upfront, **Estevao**scored from the right wing on his debut against Leverkusen, and Andrey Santos should offer depth in the midfield with **Dario Essugo**for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
“We have a fantastic squad. We are happy with the squad we are, no doubt. But we said many times that when the window transfer is open, anything can happen.”
‘They beat the two best teams in the last 10, 15 years in England’
Arne Slot suggested that the Blues are in contention for the league title this campaign. However, Maresca finds such comments unhelpful, and he is only focused on the targets set with the team.
“I didn't know to be honest. I don't pay attention what others say about us. It's easy to say more clubs they are involved. I don't like to play this kind of game. I like to be focused on players try to improve and then they can say what they want.”
Experience has taught him not to look too far into the future: a strong start to last season nearly spiralled by the middle of April into falling out of the top seven altogether. If the results week by week are going well, then the targets in the medium and long term tend to take care of themselves.
“For many reason I always said the same that I don't like to look in two, three, four months because that's doesn't exist in football. I like to watch tomorrow I like to be focused on next two days against Palace then in terms of targets, the targets of the team is to try to improve every day and then we see.”
What is not in doubt for the manager is that he has a more streamlined, stronger squad. Not only has he benefitted from many arrivals in the summer, but the team also has more self-belief thanks to their achievements over the last three months in the Premier League, Conference League, and the USA.
*“We are a better team for sure compared to one year ago. And the reason why is because we work together every day for one season. What the club, the team achieve the first season has been fantastic finishing in the Champions League,, winning the **Conference League**and the Club World Cup.”*
The boss believes he could not have asked for much more from the group in terms of their results.
“It was quite difficult to achieve something more. Now it's a new season and we’ll see what happens.”
The start of the season is far from simple, as they host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. The Eagles have won the first two major honours in their history over the last three months, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the **FA Cup**final before outdoing **Liverpool**in a penalty shootout.
*“It will be difficult after the Community Shield and **FA Cup**final. They beat the two best teams in the last 10, 15 years in England Manchester City and Liverpool. It shows how complicated it will be.”*
The two meetings between the teams last season ended with 1-1 draws. The 45-year-old feels his side should have walked away with more from both matches, but is not underestimating their quality.
“In both games we deserve something more but sometimes you didn't deserve and you get points. So it's football is normal but the two finals they won show how good they are.”