"It's a huge difference" - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca rates Blues' Premier League chances against Arsenal and Manchester City in honest verdict
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has stated that he thinks the Blues are not the Premier League title challengers yet as compared to Manchester City and Arsenal.
Fourth in the Premier League table, Chelsea have won four of their six initial games this season, having scored 15 goals. English football star Cole Palmer is currently the second highest goalscorer in the league with six goals.
However, despite a positive start to the 2024/25 campaign, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca believes that the Blues are not yet ideal title challengers. He also stated that his side isn't ready to compete with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal yet. He said (via football.london):
"I really don't think we can complete with City or Arsenal. I really think that, because we are not ready. The reason why is that City are working with the same manager for nine years, Arsenal for five years. It's something if you want to compete for important things, you need that time."
He further added:
"We (Chelsea) are three months. It's a huge difference. I'm really convinced that we cannot compete with that club. The target is to improve and slowly go close to them. But we are not in this moment ready for that."
Next up, Chelsea will host Nottingham Forest at the Stamford Bridge on Sunday, October 6. Nottingham are currently 10th in the Premier League table with nine points and they are the only team to defeat Arne Slot's Liverpool this season.
Manchester City keen to sign 24-year-old forward as Erling Haaland alternate: Reports
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are reportedly looking forward to signing Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic as an alternate for Norwegian attacker Erling Haaland, as per Fichajes.net. The Spanish manager seeks a second-choice forward for the Etihad outfit to rotate and provide rest to the former Borussia Dortmund forward.
Julian Alvarez of Argentina left the Etihad outfit for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid earlier this year. As a result of his departure, City are keen to sign a new forward. Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic has two years remaining on his contract with the Seria A giants, but the Serbian forward is not hinting at penning a new contract in Turin.
Apart from Manchester City, Atletico Madrid have also shown interest in signing Dusan Vlahovic. However, Simeone's side already completed the signing of Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth in the summer transfer window. However, the Cityzens are also the frontrunners to sign the Serb.
Vlahovic joined Juventus from Fiorentina in January 2022. Since then, he has made 109 appearances for the senior team, bagging 47 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.