Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca addresses Blues Premier League title challenge

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca does not believe his side are in the Premier League title race despite sitting third in the tablesummer and boosting a better win percentage.

The London club are set to face Aston Villa on Sunday and victory over Unai Emery’s side would be a seventh in 13 league games under the Italian. Maresca has masterminded the club’s most consistent spell since Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium took charge two-and-a-half years ago.

While Chelsea are currently on top of the table in the Conference League,. Maresca’s team are in the hunt to return to the Champions League after two seasons away.

Despite their good form, Maresca was eager to play down suggestions Chelsea could be the team to end Manchester City’s four-year title streak this season.

“No,” he said when asked whether the Blues were in the race. “I said many times I didn’t like the pressure. I didn’t like to say yes we are there, but we are not there.

“Arsenal are ahead of us, City is ahead of us, Liverpool showing they are ahead of us. The important thing is we improve game after game and then we will see.

“For me, it is not about points or the table, it is about the process and the programme. Five years together (Arsenal), nine together (City). Liverpool is different but they didn’t make too many changes from before. It’s not about the points difference on the table, it is about the time together.”

Chelsea are currently nine points behind leaders Liverpool and a point behind City, but the Blues could gain further grounds when the top two teams meet at Anfield on Sunday.