JAKARTA - Enzo Maresca has warned supporters not to judge Chelsea based on their past glory.
He also urged supporters to believe in him after taking significant steps towards qualifying for the Champions League on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Marc Cucurella's goal in the 71st minute gave the Blues a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge which brought them up to fourth in the Premier League standings.
The top five teams will secure a place in next season's Champions League and victory at Nottingham Forest on the final day will guarantee Chelsea's place.
However, Maresca believes Chelsea critics rate the club based on their brilliant past under former Roman owner Abramovich, when they won 21 trophies including two Champions Leagues for 19 years.
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"For me, personally the problem is with you, press. You think Chelsea is the same as a few years ago. Not the same."
"I think since I was here, we haven't expected more money than other clubs."
"It's about building something important. People have to believe in us. We're heading in the right direction," Maresca told Sky Sports.
Maresca together with staff and the players and supporters were relieved. They celebrated the victory over Manchester United with great fanfare at the end of the whistle.
They also circled the field with an honorary twist before leaving the field.
"I think we played fantastic without the ball. The team played so aggressively until the end, we tried to press higher, and I think we deserved to win the game."
"It's nice to be able to find some solutions and then score goals," said Maresca.
It was the last home game of the season for Chelsea, whose performance has been up and down since Maresca took over.
"The Champions League is where the club is, competing in the best tournament. People like to underestimate us and think we're young."
"However, Manchester United is an experienced team. We did what we needed to do to get the three points," Reece James, who provided the assist for Cucurella's winning goal, told Sky Sports.
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