Enzo Maresca says that Chelsea "are not ready" to compete for major trophies against Manchester City and Arsenal this season. (More Football News)
The Blues have made a strong start to life under Maresca, losing just two of their 1ও0 match🍌es so far.
They ♔are currently on a five-match winning run in all competitions, most recently seeing off Gent 4-2 in their Conference League opener on Thursday.
So far, Chelsea have scored 27 goals unꦿder the Italian, with 15 of those coming in the league, outperforming their 12.2 expected goals (xG), and only failed to score in their opening Premier League match again🗹st City.
However, Maresca has insisted people should﷽ not get carried away by Chelsea's recent form, playing down their cha🌠nces of lifting any silverware this campaign.
"I really don't think we can compete with Ci🌞ty or Arsenal," Maresca said.
"I really don't think that, because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same ma💖nager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things, you need that time.
"After Arsenal beat PSG [in the Champions League] they෴ asked Luis Enrique, and he said the same thing, that Arsenal have had th🏅e same manager for five years and [PSG] only a year and a half.
"Imagine 𓃲us, only three months… so iꦇt's a huge difference. So, I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs."
Before Maresca's appointment, Ma𒁏uricio Pochettino only spent a season at Stamford Bridge, while Graham Potte🥂r before him was only in the position for just under seven months.
After another busy transfer window for Chelsea saw them bring in 13 players, Maresca has urged for patience as they c𒀰ontinue to find their footing in the early stages of his tenu🦄re.
"The target is to improve and slowly, slowly to get closer to those cl🌌🎃ubs but at the moment we are not ready for that," he added.
“There is no✅ timeframe because you can continue to improve and add solutions to t🃏hings always.”
Chelsea face Nottingh♓am Forest at home on Sunday in their final match before the international break.
