Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insists the team are not ready to challenge for the Premier League title this season despite their recent impressive form.
Maresca has just led Chelsea to a fifth straight win in all competitions after beating Gent 4-2 at home in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
In the Premier League, they have collected 13 points from 6 matches, ranking 4th in the table, just 2 points behind the leader Liverpool, and are the team that has scored the most goals in the league with 15 goals.
This has led many to start looking at the Blues as a possible dark horse in the race for the Premier League title against Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, Maresca was quick to dismiss the speculation, saying: “I don’t think we can compete with Manchester City or Arsenal right now. We’re not ready.”
“Man City had nine years under Pep, Arsenal five years (with Mikel Arteta), while we have only had three months. We have to take it slow and take it to the next level.”
Asked how long it may take to reach City and Arsenal’s level, Maresca added: “There is no time frame because you can continue to improve and add solutions to things always. But in the end the more time you are together, the better things are because you can know each other. They can improve. It is about this.”
Maresca dismissed suggestions that his calm approach was different to three of Chelsea’s previous Italian managers, Carlo Ancelotti, Maurizio Sarri and Antonio Conte, but said their good start to the campaign has bred confidence in his squad.
Meanwhile, Maresca is set to lead the team to their UFABET next Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, October 6.