Enzo Maresca Forecasts Manchester City Title Challenge While Downplaying Chelsea's Prospects

Enzo Maresca is confident that Manchester City can reclaim their position in the Premier League title race, while stressing that it is simply "the reality" that Chelsea don't pose a legitimate challenge for the championship. As Chelsea prepares for Thursday's west London derby against Fulham, they sit second in the league, just four points behind leaders Liverpool, albeit having played one match more than the Merseyside team. In stark contrast, despite Manchester City's remarkable achievement of winning four consecutive Premier League titles prior to this season, they currently find themselves 12 points off the top, suffering through a difficult stretch that has seen them tally nine defeats in their last 12 matches across all competitions.

But Maresca, who worked alongside City boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, said: "Manchester City at the end will be there. They are in a moment that has never happened before.

"Every time they play a game, they have an injury, and they don't have enough players in this moment. And the ones they have are not 100 percent because they have just come back from injury, so it is a very bad situation.

"We are ahead of our expectations, in terms of the way we are playing, and the points we have, but the main focus is how we can improve the players and how we can improve the team."

Maresca, who has repeatedly dismissed any title talk concerning Chelsea, added: "It is not about the (title) pressure for the players or for the club or for me, it is just the reality.

"I would like to have that kind of pressure and hopefully soon we can, but the reason why I said we are not there yet, is because the reality is that we are not."

Maresca, asked if it was now Liverpool's title to lose, replied: "No, the reality says we are second at the halfway point, so the table does reflect the teams.

Advertisement

"But Liverpool have done a fantastic job since the first day, and the squad has lived that kind of moment, winning a trophy, which is important.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

"Last year, when Liverpool faced Chelsea in the Carabao (League) Cup final I saw the amount of finals that Liverpool players had played in, and the number of finals Chelsea players had played in, and there was a huge difference. So it shows the experience you need, but we are happy to be where we are."

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)