'Chelsea have done enough!': Enzo Maresca vents frustrations ahead of final-day decider in top-five race

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·23 maggio 2025

'Chelsea have done enough!': Enzo Maresca vents frustrations ahead of final-day decider in top-five race

The Blues boss says data proves his team are among the best in the Premier League

Angry: Enzo Maresca

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Enzo Maresca is “frustrated” that Chelsea’s Champions League fate remains in the balance, claiming data proves his side already “did enough” to secure a top-five finish.

The Blues head into the final day of the Premier League season as one of five teams scrapping for three Champions League places behind champions Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal.

Only the top two have a better defensive record than Chelsea, but Maresca’s team have scored the fewest goals of the current top five and missed more big chances - 81 - than any Premier League side bar Liverpool.

The upshot is that they still need three points away to Nottingham Forest to guarantee a return to Europe’s top competition.

That is in odd contrast with London rivals Tottenham, who are 12 places behind Chelsea but go into the final weekend already assured of Champions League football after winning the Europa League in midweek.

If you see the data, we are the first or second club in creating chances

Enzo Maresca

Chelsea beat Spurs home and away this term and could finish more than 30 points clear of Ange Postecoglou’s team, but Maresca says they only have themselves to blame for not being in a similar position of comfort.

“I feel frustrated, not because of Tottenham,” he said. “I feel frustrated because if you see the data, we are the first or second club in creating chances.

“I’m not thinking about Tottenham. If they’re going to play Champions League next season, it’s because they have done something good, winning the Europa League.

“The frustration is more because I think overall we did enough to finish top four or top five. The numbers are there, offensively and defensively. We are the third-best defence in the league, but we have the risk of not finishing in the top four or top five.

“I feel frustrated because I think we did enough offensively and defensively to finish in the Champions League. But now we are here and we will try to finish in the right way.”