Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that the team has shown massive improvement this season despite their poor form in the second half of the season ahead of their Premier League clash against Everton on Saturday.
The Blues needed a last-minute goal to seal a 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday for their first away win of the year, and their second win in five matches.
Their stuttering form has put their Champions League qualification hopes in doubt as the likes of Newcastle United, Manchester City have overtaken them in the race.
Chelsea have spent the whole of the season in the Champions League qualification positions unlike last season where they failed to spend a single day there.
Maresca highlighted their consistency in the European places as a major improvement despite their poor form lately.
He said: “How many times in the last two years has Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? Zero.
“How many times this season? Almost all season. Is it an improvement or not? It is already an improvement because we spend all season there. Now, we are going to try our best to finish there no doubt.
“We want to finish there, no doubt. We are happy to finish there, yes. Is it enough? No, because we want to compete for titles. But compared to the past two years, I think it is quite clear that there is an improvement. Now, if you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. It depends which way. I see it.”
The Italian manager reiterated again that the club’s target is to qualify for the Champions League.
Maresca said: “We had some moments, some good moments but the good thing is me as a manager, the club, we all have a vision of where we want to go and I think we are in the right direction,”
“Hopefully we can be there very soon. The players are working hard every day to bring the club where it has to be. The club has a vision. The journey just started.”
Maresca also confirmed that Romeo Lavia is available for selection for the encounter against Everton.
He said: “Romeo is doing well – he was on the bench against Fulham,’ added Enzo. ‘Also, he was on the bench in other games recently. He’s back, he’s training with us.
‘With Romeo, we will try the same things that we are doing with Reece James. It is important that we use them carefully, going step by step and taking things slowly. Reece is doing well, he is playing two games every few days now and is holding up well across games in the Conference League and the Premier League. We will try to do the same with Romeo.”
The former Leicester City manager will be managing his 50th game in charge of Chelsea, describing it as a good experience.
Maresca said: ‘It’s been a good experience and I’m very happy,’ Maresca explained. ‘I have learned many things here.
“Playing in many competitions and playing every three days, it’s a journey in terms of learning things. We have had some good moments, some bad moments but the club has a vision and we are just at the beginning of that vision.”
Maressa has led Chelsea to 28 victories, nine draws, and 12 defeats in 49 matches in all competitions while scoring 105 goals, and conceding 54.
