Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says the club's owners have told him he does not have to qualify for the Champions League this season.

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• Maresca appointed new Chelsea boss
• Ex-Leicester boss reveals season targets
• Blues begin campaign against Man City

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maresca swapped Leicester City for Chelsea earlier this summer and while he may be excited about leading the Blues this season, their pre-season campaign has been dire. And although they have signed 10 players, and spent £185 million ($239.5m), Maresca said he is not under pressure to secure Chelsea a top-four finish in 2024-25.

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  WHAT ENZO MARESCA SAID

  He told reporters: “What I can say is that nobody from the club asked me for the Champions League this year. Nobody said that we need to finish in the first four. What they said is that we need to step-by-step arrive and compete. If you ask me, my dream is to compete with the teams that at this moment are dominating English football. A very good target already [is] when the owner, sporting directors, the managers and players all have the same idea we are going in the same direction.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea finished sixth last season and appeared to be heading in the right direction under Mauricio Pochettino, only for the Argentine to part ways with the Stamford Bridge outfit. Although Maresca stressed he is not under great pressure, few would be surprised if that changes quickly with this trigger-happy ownership – who have had Thomas Tuchel, Frank Lampard, Pochettino and now Maresca as coaches in two short years.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Maresca's side begin the new Premier League season at home to defending champions Manchester City on Sunday, before starting their Conference League campaign on Tuesday in the first of a two-legged tie against Servette.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News