Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that he is not under pressure ahead of the crucial Champions League decider against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The Blues will travel to the City Ground in their last Premier League game of the season with a Champions League place at stake.
A win will guarantee Chelsea’s return to the competition for the first time since 2023.
Five clubs will battle for three Champions League slots on Sunday but Enzo Maresca he is not under extra pressure for the encounter.
He said: “I felt pressure since I joined the club, because this is a club where you need to win games.
“It probably also shows how difficult the Premier League is, so many teams involved. The ones that have been consistent are Liverpool, this is the reason why they won … the rest had up-and-down moments during the season.
“We’re quite lucky in this aspect, because if we win we do our job. We don’t need to pay attention to the other results.”
Chelsea could seal a top three finish with third-placed Manchester City just two points above them. But a loss or draw could force them out of the top five.
Maresca revealed that the players are ready for the crunch clash because they know how important it is to the club.
He said: “I can see the players in exactly the same way they were for almost the whole season. They are aware this is the game, an important game, the last one, and the most important one because if we are able to finish well it’s a good thing for everyone at Chelsea.
“When you join Chelsea, you feel the pressure from day one. You don’t need to play this kind of game to feel more pressure or less pressure. It’s a club where you need to win games and we have won many this season, but we need one more and it’s the most important one.
“At this stage of the season there is pressure on all the clubs involved,’ added Maresca. ‘Probably the expectation weighs more heavily on our players than the Forest players, but if their players don’t feel pressure, it’s not something I’m worried about. I’m worried about our team and how we can win the game.”
Chelsea have recorded one win from their last 10 away league games, and having scored the fewest goals of anyone on the road in 2025.
Meanwhile, England coach, Thomas Tuchel, has invited five Chelsea players for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra on June 7, and a friendly against Senegal three days later.
Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James will represent the Three Lions in the encounter with six days to the start of the FIFA Club World Cup.
