Enzo Maresca asks for patience from owners as he begins his Chelsea reign

Enzo Maresca has pleaded with Chelsea’s owners to be given time in the job as the club’s fifth manager of the Todd Boehly / Clearlake Capital era prepares for his first game in charge on Sunday. The Italian has the daunting task of beginning his reign at Stamford Bridge with a visit by the champions, Manchester City, although will at least have some familiar faces in the visiting dugout as he was previously on Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has backed his friend to succeed where Mauricio Pochettino, Frank Lampard and Graham Potter have failed since Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League for Chelsea three years ago. Even Tuchel was unable to win the backing of the club’s owners, with the German sacked less than four months after Chelsea beat City in Porto, so Maresca’s plea for patience may well be forlorn.

“For me the big difference between us in this moment and teams that are dominating English football, it’s just a matter of time,” he said. “These clubs worked with the same manager for eight or nine years and we have been here one month. For sure, with timing, we are going to close the gap and hopefully it can happen very soon.

“Sometimes it sounds like an excuse. But at the end, in our case, because of the process and the idea, I am 100% sure this team is getting better game after game.”

Maresca also called on Chelsea’s fans to give him and the team his support, which was often denied to his predecessor. Potter was booed by Chelsea fans within months of his appointment, while Pochettino had to suffer indignity of hearing supporters call for the return of José Mourinho last season.

“For sure we need their support in any case because when you are on the pitch and you can hear the support, it’s like a 12th player,” Maresca said. “If they support us and are patient, we will pay them back with performances and results.

“A good start is always important, whether you are Chelsea or another club. I’m quite confident and relaxed in terms of time because I can see the team is improving.”

Unlike Pochettino last season Maresca has a largely fit squad, with his biggest problem likely to be having too many players to call upon rather than too few.

After another remarkable summer during which Chelsea have signed nine players – with one of João Félix or Victor Osimhen likely to follow – the squad has swollen to 43, leaving the sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart with a huge clearout operation before the window closes on 30 August.

Chelsea are still hoping to sell Conor Gallagher who after the collapse of his move to Atlético Madrid is training away from the main squad with Trevoh Chalobah and Romelu Lukaku, and will not be available to face City. The future of Ben Chilwell is also in doubt.

Reece James is the only player unavailable due to a hamstring injury, although the new £60m signing from Wolves Pedro Neto is likely to start on the bench as he is short of match fitness.