New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has pleaded for patience as the team will try to compete and win games this season

Chelsea 2024/2025 Premier League starts against reigning champions Manchester City, with the Italian seeking to turn around the west London club’s fortunes after a string of disappointing seasons.

Chelsea, which placed sixth last season and 12th in 2022-23, signed the 44-year-old Maresca in June after leading Leicester City to the English Championship title in his first season in charge.

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Chelsea has spent roughly 160 million pounds ($206.50 million) on players such as Portuguese winger Pedro Neto, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Swedish-Danish custodian Filip Jorgensen.

“We are going to try and do our best to win games,” Maresca, who had a spell as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistant managers at City, told reporters on Friday.

“The big difference between us, in this moment, and other teams is that it is just a matter of time.

” Some clubs work with a manager for eight years, so with time we will close the gap and hopefully that can happen soon.

“Sometimes it (time) sounds like an excuse from managers and I know timing in football is difficult, but in our case with the process and ideas we will close the gap.

“We need their (fans) support because when you are on the pitch and you can hear the fans behind the team it is like 12 players.

“If they support us and be patient then we will pay them back with performance and results.”

Chelsea will be missing captain Reece James, who suffered a hamstring injury.

Maresca stated midfielder Conor Gallagher, 24, was training separately and would be out for Sunday’s match at Stamford Bridge.

Gallagher was close to signing with LaLiga team Atletico Madrid, but according to British media reports, the move has been put on hold.
“He is trying to find a solution with the club,” Maresca said.