Chelsea may have ended last season in style, qualifying for the Champions League, bagging the Conference League trophy, and lifting the Club World Cup, but that glory run is already coming at a price. The Blues’ start to the new campaign has been a mixed bag. Two wins, two draws, and a single defeat leave their early-season form teetering on the edge.
When quizzed about United‘s supposed advantage of a clear midweek schedule, Maresca didn’t hold back.
“If you ask me, I prefer to play the Champions League game, no doubt,” he said. “But at the same time, the reality is that they have one entire week to prepare the game. And we played a game two days ago, 48 hours ago. But again, I prefer to play the Champions League games.”
With Chelsea winless in their last two, Maresca was asked if Saturday’s showdown comes with added weight. His response? A firm dismissal.
“Absolutely not,” he began. “Personally, I have pressure on the game, that I want to try to win all the game. But it’s not because we didn’t win Brentford and we lost Bayern Munich away, that this game I feel more pressure.
“I always have pressure because we want to win all the games. And again, I think Bayern Munich away, PSG away and Barcelona away, probably they were the worst stadium to go and play the first game in. And we were there, we competed face-to-face. And we’ll see in the next one.”
Saturday’s clash is dripping with narrative. Chelsea arrive battle-scarred but unbowed, while United come rested, hungry, and determined to make their mark under Amorim. The Portuguese, tasked with steadying the ship, will see the fixture as the perfect chance to deliver a statement win against a heavyweight rival. Only three points at home will save his skin after a 3-0 drubbing by Manchester City last weekend in the derby.
