Maresca Brushes Off Slot’s Title Talk, Keeps Chelsea Focused on the Pitch

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has dismissed comments from Liverpool manager Arne Slot suggesting the Blues should have won the Premier League last season.

Maresca, who guided Chelsea to a fourth-place finish in his debut campaign, also delivered silverware in the form of the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. With such success, many pundits—and even rival coaches—are tipping the Blues for a genuine title push this term.

Slot recently highlighted Chelsea’s squad depth and quality as a reason they should be challenging at the very top, but Maresca isn’t getting drawn into the hype.

“I don’t pay attention to what the other people say about us,” Maresca told reporters ahead of Sunday’s opener against Crystal Palace.
“It’s easy to say that more clubs are involved. I don’t like to play this kind of game. I like to be focused on players, try to improve, and then they can say what they want.”

Opinion:
It’s easy to see why Slot—and others—believe Chelsea are primed for a title challenge. Maresca has inherited a squad dripping with talent and, after delivering two trophies in under a year, he has already proven he can turn potential into results.

But Maresca’s response tells you something important about his approach: he’s not here for the noise. Rival managers often play the mind games early, planting seeds of pressure in the media. Maresca, however, seems determined to keep the spotlight off expectations and on the process—an attitude that could serve Chelsea well in the long haul.

The truth? If Chelsea’s mix of youth and experience clicks from the start, they’ll be right in the conversation whether Maresca talks about the title or not. For now, though, his focus is clear: beat Crystal Palace, take it one game at a time, and let the results do the talking.