Maresca says Chelsea are ahead of his expectations but still ‘far’ from Arsenal and Man City | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca says his Chelsea side are ahead of where he expected them to be at this stage but admits they are still far from Manchester City and Arsenal.

Chelsea’s 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday means Maresca has won three of his five Premier League games in charge of the club, with just one defeat which came against champions Manchester City.

The Blues take on League Two side Barrow in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, and ahead of the game Maresca says he is pleased with his team’s progress.

“I said that we are ahead of where we expected to be today,” he said.

“Not in terms of results but in terms of the way the team are progressing and the way the team are playing.

“In terms of results, I still think that we are far from these kind of teams, like City and Arsenal because we need to learn many, many things and we need to improve many things; attacking better, defending better.

“The important thing is the feeling in this moment, that we are going in the right direction. This is very important.”

Maresca also says Tuesday’s clash against the League Two leaders will provide an opportunity for players who have not received much game time in the Premier League this season, including summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

“Yes, probably yes,” he said when asked if Dewsbury-Hall has a chance of starting.

“I’m very happy with Kiernan. We also need to understand that Kiernan was the main player at Leicester. He has arrived here and he is not the main player. He is one of the players.

“For him, for any player in the world, you need to adapt because you were the main player here and now one of the players. That period requires time that you understand and adapt.

“I’m completely happy with Kiernan, the way he is doing. For sure, when you go inside the final 10 minutes, five minutes; it’s not easy for Kiernan or the rest of the players so you need to understand a little bit that situation from the other one when you were the main player. It is just a matter to adapt a little bit but I don’t have any doubts for Kiernan.”

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