Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea have a stronger squad than last season, but has stopped short of calling them title contenders.
The Blues started Maresca’s first campaign in charge in fine form, only to tail off in the middle of the season and eventually finish fourth.
Having added more firepower to their squad this summer in the shape of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, some are tipping Chelsea to be in the Premier League title shake-up this time around.
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Blues boss Maresca said: “For sure we are better than last season. For sure we are going to face that (tough) period better compared to last season.
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“I said that when we started last season, we were very far from the ones that they are competing and they are dominating English football.
“Now we are more close and the next step is to be even more close and try to compete with them.”
Pressed on whether his side can compete with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City this season, the Italian added: “(We’re) good enough to try to beat Crystal Palace, this is what I think.”
On Sunday the Blues host a Palace side buoyed by their penalty shoot-out win over Liverpool in last weekend’s Community Shield.
Liam Delap is one of the new faces at Chelsea
Liam Delap is one of the new faces at Chelsea(Bradley Collyer/PA)
“It has been the Community Shield, and it has been the FA Cup against City,” added Maresca.
“They beat, in two finals, probably the two best teams in the last 10-15 years in England, Man City and Liverpool. This shows how complicated it will be on Sunday.”
Chelsea led both matches against the Eagles last season, only to be pegged back by second-half equalisers.
“I think in both games we probably deserved something more,” said Maresca.
“Sometimes you don’t deserve to and you get points, so it’s football, it’s normal. But for sure, as I said, the two finals they won show how good they are.”