"We are not ready": Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca comments on title race

Chelsea defeated Brentford 2-1 at home in Premier League matchday 16, narrowing the gap to the league leaders to just two points. However, Blues manager Enzo Maresca believes his team is not yet ready to compete for the title.

Details: Following the game, Maresca was once again asked about the title race. According to the Italian, the team is not ready, though he is pleased that fans are dreaming about it.

Quote: "In my opinion, we are NOT ready. You can talk about the title, and the fans can dream about the title... absolutely. If you ask me, I will tell you what I think. We are not ready, but we are happy that the fans can dream," Maresca said after the victory.

Notably, the Italian recently mentioned that he hopes Chelsea can soon become favorites in the title race, but not just yet.

Reminder: Chelsea's Senegalese forward has scored the most goals from open play in the Premier League since the start of the 2023/24 season. Since the beginning of last season, Nicolas Jackson has netted 23 goals, edging out Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who has scored 22.

On Thursday, December 12, Chelsea, with an experimental lineup, secured a 3–1 away victory against Astana in the fifth round of the UEFA Conference League. This win ensured their qualification for the Round of 16 in the 2024/25 Conference League season.