Chelsea -Baas Enzo Maresca wants a return to the Champions League before Real Betis collides with former Manchester City -Baas Manuel Pellegrini
Enzo Maresca has claimed that Chelsea has three “Premier League Finals” before he was confronted with his “Professional Dad” Manuel Pellegrini in the final of the UEFA Conference. The blues will offer to end an inconsistent season at a peak by beating Real Betis and winning the first silverware of the Post-Ibamovich era on 28 May
But first the Italian head coach challenged the winners of the Champions League 2021 to seal a return to Europe Top Club competition by winning their last three league matches – starting on Sunday's trip to Newcastle.
“We have 20 days to prepare for the final,” said the Italian. “We still have three Premier League finals for that and hopefully we can end in the right way.
“Newcastle is a big one, it is a huge one. Then Manchester United will be a big one, Nottingham Forrest will be a big one. They will all be big competitions. Sunday is a chance to start in the right way on Sunday.
“The players must be focused on the Newcastle game because it is the next and for us, it must be as thinking that it is the last game of the season, give everything and then we will see at the end.”
Chelsea and Newcastle are locked up on 63 points and a target difference of Plus 21. And they each have one victory against each other this season with Alexander Isak in both matches -the 2-1 Home Premier League win of the West -Londs and Newcastle's Carabao Cup victory in St James' Park.
“I think Isak is a top player, but stopping it is not enough,” Maresca added. “There are more players, so we have to work as a team and we have to stop them as a team.”
Chelsea achieved a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions by the Swedish side Djurgarden in the semi -final of the Conference League on Thursday evening to beat in a team that sees 10 changes – and has to go again on Sunday.
“It's not the ideal situation,” Maresca admitted. “It's the first in the morning, but we have to play the game and hopefully we can continue our good moment.”
Real Betis plays their very first European final ever, but Pellegrini – and Manchester United – loaner Antony – are familiar faces.
Maresca played two years for the former Boss in Manchester City in Malaga and was then an assistant for him in West Ham. “He is one of my professional fathers,” said the blues boss. “He is honest, he is a good person, he always tries to be honest with the player. And I try personally, I try to learn a lot about his way.”
Maresca also knows about the heat of football passion in South Spain after playing for the local rivals of Real Betis.
“I played for Sevilla for four years, that's a big derby against Betis,” he said. “We also won the Derby 1-0 and I scored a goal. I know they can't, they don't love me.
“I met my wife in Sevilla, she is from Sevilla. My first son born in Sevilla. I played for Sevilla, but I undoubtedly want to win the final.”
The Chelsea supporters Trust has called for an investigation into “the most serious violation of the stadium security in recent memory” after fans of Djurgarden had tickets for home sections for the semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
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