Maresca says Chelsea need more experience to compete with Liverpool next season | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca says the difference between his Chelsea side and Liverpool is the latter having more “experienced players that know how to win games”.

The Blues take on the recently crowned Premier League champions at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Earlier this season, Maresca’s side had looked like they would compete with Liverpool for the title, only to drop off in the second half of the campaign and are now in a battle to make the top five to qualify for Champions League football.

Asked about the gap between the two sides compared to earlier in the campaign, Maresca said: “In terms of the gap [between Chelsea and Liverpool], it is there, you can see this clearly.

“My feeling is we are [moving] in the right direction and hopefully this gap can be smaller and smaller and smaller.

“The difference is they have been consistent compared to us. For part of the season we were very good, and then we lost some games. This has probably been the main reason why.

“And also in terms of experienced players that know how to win games and these kinds of things, I think they have something more compared to us.”

Maresca did not rule out adding more experience to his squad in the transfer market this summer, but also stressed his young team will be better for what they have experienced this season.

“For sure, if you want to close the gap with these kind of clubs then, for sure, you have to do things,” he said on the possibility of adding experience this summer.

“I said already, our team next season will be better also in terms of experience because this season has been one more year together.

“There are ones who are growing, like Levi [Colwill] for instance. He is growing a lot in terms of leadership. For sure, next sure he will be better and better. Hopefully the ones that we have, they can grow and help us in terms of experience.”

Maresca also confirmed Chelsea would give Liverpool a guard of honour ahead of their game.

He said: “Yes. It’s tradition. We have to do that, and we are going to do that. They won the Premier League, so. they deserve it.”