Chelsea have two-stage mission to secure Champions League football
BY MAX HALL
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said that Friday’s win at home to Manchester United was just part one of a two-stage mission to secure Champions League football next season.
With England’s UEFA coefficient offering a fifth Champions League place for 2025-26, the Blues know their fate is in their own hands going into a huge final league game of the season, away to a Nottingham Forest side that are also intent on securing a top-five finish.
Asked about the happy mood among Chelsea’s owners and executives after the win over United, Maresca said: “At this stage, they know that it’s important to win games. The players’ focus has to be on us because if we are able to win two games – [against United] and the next one – it depends upon us, we don’t have to listen for other results.”
The Chelsea manager said academy graduate Tyrique George had played himself into contention for selection for Sunday’s top-five shootout after making his first Premier League start, against United.
Stating the Camden-born 19-year-old had “100 per cent” given himself a chance to retain his place, Maresca added of his performance: “Very good. Brave. He was a threat, in behind. It was not easy for him. On the other side you have [Harry] Maguire, you have [Victor] Lindelof, you have [Luke] Shaw. He was fighting against important defenders. But again, we tried to find a solution with a player from the academy.”
Referring to a penalty shout for Chelsea that was overturned after a VAR review, following United keeper Andre Onana’s challenge on the teenager, Maresca said of the youngster: “Overall, I think also he had the penalty moment, so he worked quite well.”
A timely strike from left-back Marc Cucurella settled the match to set up Sunday’s high-stakes clash.
With Maresca having been criticised by sections of the Stamford Bridge supporters this season, because of his favoured playing style, the manager said the movement he wants from his players is helping to bring the best out of £55million-plus full-back Cucurella, who had endured a difficult start to his career in West London.
“Cuco has a background with Barcelona academy, La Masia,” said the Chelsea boss. “So he grew up in a club where the philosophy, or the idea that you think is similar [to Chelsea]. The reason why Cuco is doing, probably, so good with us is also because we know him, what he can do and the way we like to play is exactly the way that’s good for him. We try to work day by day. He’s developing very well.”
Commenting on the Cucurella goal, set up by man of the match Reece James, Maresca said: “The assist from the right full-back, the goal from the left full-back, and it’s the way I like to play.”
The Blues will need to repeat that sort of performance in a huge week for the club which will see them follow up Sunday’s trip to Nottingham with the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis in Wrocław on Wednesday. If they fail to finish in the top six in the Premier League, only victory in Poland will see them upgrade UEFA’s Conference League for the Europa League next season.
PICTURE: ALAMY
