Premier League: Chelsea Manager Speaks On Club’s Second Position
Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca has revealed that the team needs to do better despite their goalscoring form in the Premier League ahead of the away clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The Blues have enjoyed an impressive start to life under Maresca, which has seen them move up to the second position on the log after the 5-1 win over Southampton.
Under Maresca, Chelsea have enjoyed a prolific season so far, scoring 31 goals in the Premier League in 14 matches, the highest in the competition.
They have also scored 57 times in 22 matches across all competitions this season, their best-ever goals-per-game (2.6) ratio in a campaign.
Maresca has demanded that the team improve defensively after keeping only three clean sheets in the Premier League.
He said: “I don’t think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City. We have to do many more things, not just score goals. Avoid conceding goals.
“Defensively we are doing well but we are just focused on Sunday and then the next one.
“We are not thinking about April, May or June. It’s too early. Things can change quickly in football. The focus is Sunday, today’s session and tomorrow’s session.”
The Italian manager also urged Noni Madueke to keep working hard after his man-of-the-match performance against Southampton on Wednesday.
He said: “Overall he’s working well since we started. Sometimes he drops a little bit. He’s not allowed to drop. In terms of numbers, he’s doing fantastic with goals and assists,” Maresca said.
“Off the ball when we ask him to defend and press he’s doing very well. The only reason I said this the other day is because I want the best from Noni and to get the best you have to push him. If he relaxes a little bit, it’s wrong.
“I try to be, not a friend, but close to the players. Sometimes between friends, when you say something wrong to your friend he’s not happy. He has to know that what you say is because you want to take care of him.”
Sunday’s opponents, Tottenham have been inconsistent in the league since a 4-0 win over Manchester City, they lost 1-0 to Bournemouth on Thursday. But Maresca is expecting a tough clash with their London rivals.
Maresca said: “They have very good players and a very good manager. What kind of problems they have, I don’t know. But they are a fantastic team.
“You see the results, two weeks ago they beat City, so they are a very good team.”
Chelsea have won eight matches in the Premier League, with four draws, and two defeats to earn 28 points.
Premier League: Chelsea Manager Speaks On Club’s Second Position is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
