“He’d be stupid to say that” - Manchester United icon makes feelings clear about Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca’s stance on Premier League title race
Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke believes Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is playing down his team's chances of winning the Premier League to avoid putting pressure on players. However, Yorke termed it 'stupid' since they are second on the table. The Blues have transformed into a formidable force under the Italian manager, who took charge at Stamford Bridge this summer.
The London giants are second on the league table after 17 games, four points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand. However, Maresca has remained modest about Chelsea's title chances, insisting that Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City are the main players in the race.
Speaking to Sportskens.com, Yorke insisted that the Italian is protecting his players from extra pressure.
"I think Enzo Maresca will say the same thing to the players. Why does he need to change what he’s saying? Why does he need to put extra pressure on the situation? Chelsea are winning games; they just need to keep doing what they’re doing. The message would be take it game-by-game and keeping winning as much as you can," Yorke said.
He continued:
"Maresca doesn’t need to say that his team is in the title race. He'd be stupid to say that because, at the end of the day, the players are seeing the results for themselves. Let's just play dumb. 'We're not in it. We're second in the league. We’re close,' that’s it."
He concluded:
"He doesn’t need to ask the players about it. He just needs to keep everything ticking over. Let's see how they end up this season."
Maresca's team were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton on Sunday (December 22) in the Premier League.
When are Chelsea back in action?
Chelsea are preparing to host Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday (December 26) in the Premier League. The Blues have won 10 and lost just two in the league so far this season.
While Maresca continues to remain coy about his team's title credentials, the London giants have a good chance of winning the league. Chelsea have scored 37 times in the Premier League this season, the same as leaders Liverpool.
The Blues have responded well to Maresca's tactics so far and have also been flawless in the UEFA Conference League. They are leading the table after six games, with six wins to their name. The London giants have scored 26 goals and conceded just five in Europe this season.
