Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that the club will “dominate” the Premier League over the next five to ten years.
The 44-year-old Italian has consistently downplayed his team’s title aspirations this season, even with Chelsea sitting third in the table, level on points and goal difference with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Following a convincing 3-0 home victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, Chelsea moved ahead of struggling champions Manchester City, but they still trail league leaders Liverpool by nine points.
Despite the substantial spending on world-record transfers under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Maresca has minimized Chelsea’s immediate title ambitions.
Since the Clearlake takeover, Chelsea have spent over £1.5bn, mainly on younger players with long-term contracts, though this has been offset by significant player sales.
With players like Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Nicolas Jackson hitting their stride, and Cole Palmer’s continued impact over the last 18 months, Chelsea’s future looks promising.
However, Maresca believes the team’s inexperience, with an average squad age of just over 23, will ultimately prevent them from competing for titles this season.
“We’re not in the title race. We are not, in my opinion,” said Maresca.
Speaking before Wednesday’s Premier League match at Southampton, Maresca added: “What I said to the owners and the sporting directors the first time I met them, because of the age, and because of how good the squad is, for me Chelsea in the next five to 10 years will be one of the teams, or the team, that is going to dominate English football.
“This is what I said this to the club the first time I met them. No matter who will be the manager, for the next five or 10 years, because of the age, the squad, you can dominate English football, and I still think exactly the same.
“In terms of a target they didn’t ask me for any target, only to try to build something important for the next years. I think we are [heading] in the right direction.
“In terms of a personal target, I know you struggle to believe but I’m not focused on [the] end of season, next season, because it’s not real.”
Chelsea finished 12th and sixth in the first two seasons under their new American ownership, failing to secure a trophy, but have started to show signs of stability and improvement under Maresca.
In other news, Maresca did not provide a specific timeline for Wesley Fofana’s latest hamstring injury, but confirmed that the 23-year-old centre-back would be sidelined for “weeks,” along with captain Reece James.