Enzo Maresca Addresses Sancho’s Status, Club Ambitions, and Fofana’s Condition

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca spoke to the media in advance of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Newcastle, which is scheduled for a 19:45 GMT kick-off. The following are the principal statements from his press conference: Regarding Jadon Sancho, who has been an unused substitute in Chelsea’s previous two matches, Maresca remarked: “Jadon has been doing well since he arrived. Players cannot maintain the same level all season because of the huge amount of games. He hasn’t played for technical and tactical decisions, it’s nothing more than that. He is going to play many games.” When questioned about whether Champions League qualification is a specific goal for him and the players, Maresca stated: “The club have never mentioned top four to me. They always said that the target is to build something important for the next four or five years. It could be a pressure for the players, but I don’t think so.” Despite a strong start to the season, Maresca affirmed that he “still feels the same” about the team not yet being prepared to challenge for the title, adding: “I think we can improve many things. We can attack better, defend better and manage the games better. This is a learning process and we need to learn how to play different kinds of games.” Concerning Wesley Fofana, who was seen with strapping on his leg during Sunday’s victory over Newcastle, Maresca commented: “He had a bad moment in the first half, but he’s a fighter. I really love him because it’s not easy to be out for a year. He looks OK and this is the most important thing.”