Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has challenged his squad to improve their performances as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
The Blues host the struggling North London side at Stamford Bridge, hoping to bounce back from a lackluster showing in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal before the international break.
Reports of the first team squad losing to the youth team circulated last week and although Maresca downplayed the significance of the match, he has charged his players to step up ahead of their crucial match on Thursday.
“No, yeah, but since day one they are giving everything, fantastic. The attitude, the behavior has always been top, every game, every game, every day.
Even in the last three, four days, in the last week, because they know how important it is from now on, even if I think this already starts from four, five games, in the last 12, 13, 14 games”, Maresca said in his pregame presser.
Chelsea are in a battle to finish in the top four in the English Premier League with their 49 points one more than fifth-placed Manchester City, and two more than seventh-placed Brighton and Hove Albion.
The London side were second on the league standings at the beginning of December, but have suffered a dip in form which has seen them win just four of their last 13 league matches, dropping to fourth in the process.
“Every game becomes important and now, as you said, we have nine games to go and hopefully we can finish where we are at this moment”, he added.
The Blues are still in contention to win a maiden UEFA Conference League, playing against Legia Warszawa in the quarterfinals, although they face Brentford and Ipswich Town in the Premier League in between both legs.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
