Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has pointed to the Blues’ defeat to Liverpool in last season’s Carabao Cup final as evidence of the Reds’ advantage over his team in the Premier League title race.
Currently sitting in second place in the Premier League as Christmas approaches, Maresca has consistently downplayed Chelsea’s chances of competing for the title this season.
In a pre-match interview ahead of Chelsea’s Boxing Day fixture against Fulham, Maresca shared his thoughts on the title race.
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“I think, for sure, the reality is that we are second, and we’re not just second after four or five games, when the table might not reflect the true picture,” Maresca said. “But Liverpool has been fantastic from day one. It’s a squad that’s already experienced moments like this, having won trophies, which is crucial.”
Maresca then reflected on the Carabao Cup final, adding, “In one of my press conferences, I said that when Liverpool faced Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final last year, I saw the difference in the number of finals Liverpool players had played compared to Chelsea’s. It was a huge gap.”
“This showed the experience needed to handle these kinds of moments, to rise to the occasion,” he continued. “But we’re happy with where we are right now.”