Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that the club is moving in the right direction ahead of the Europa Conference League clash against Lega Warsaw at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
The Blues won the first leg 3-0 in Poland, and followed it up with a disappointing 2-2 performance against Ipswich Town on Sunday at home.
The result saw them slip out of the Champions League places to occupy the sixth position, which has drawn criticisms from the club supporters.
The supporters booed the players and the manager in the game against Ipswich Town, but Maresca believes the team has improved compared to last season.
He said: “What happened last year, two years ago, I was not here, I don’t have an idea — I’m not going to judge because it’s difficult. But this season, we are [improving fast].
When asked whether he trusts his football can entertain Chelsea’s fans, Maresca said: “I am not able to do a different style.
“The message [is] that with [the] fans [behind us] we are a better team. I completely understand that, as a team, we have to engage our fans. That’s something that on Sunday we were not able to do, especially for those 20 or 25 minutes. It is also on us to be good enough to engage our fans.”
“I think we can reach the European semifinal. Yes, for sure it’s not the Champions League, but in the end it’s a European competition.
“We have been in the top four almost all season. Compared to the last two seasons, where the team has been zero times [in the] top four. I think it’s quite clear that the direction is the right one, the style is the right one.”
Maresca revealed that he does not hear the abuse of the supporters while adding that they have contributed to the growth of the team.
He said: “I think football belongs to the fans because they are the main part. And as a team, as a club, when your fans support you, it’s important because the players can receive that feeling,” he said.
“So when I say we need to engage them, it’s that we need to play in the right way, create chances, and try to score goals. Because at the end, if you score goals also the mood changes for everyone.
“Most of the games at home, the fans have been top — fantastic support for the team. In some games, in some moments, like the last one, they were not happy. So we have to be good enough to engage them again.”
Chelsea have only won five matches out of their last 16 matches in the Premier League, which has affected their Champions League objectives.
Maresca is under pressure to return the club back to European top tier competition after two years in the wilderness.
The Blues have six matches remaining in the Premier League to achieve their sole objective at the beginning of the season. They are currently a place and a point below the last Champions League place in sixth.
