Enzo Maresca says ‘proud' Chelsea keen to get back to the top
Coming after the team won the Europa Conference League and secured Champions League qualification last month, it has been a highly satisfactory end to Maresca's first season in charge.
It has been a turbulent few years at Stamford Bridge following the takeover of 2022 but Maresca is pleased with progress on the field during his tenure.
The Italian said: 'We are very happy. We are very proud to play in the final on Sunday.
'This is the Club World Cup – the best clubs in the world are here. For us to be there on Sunday is something that we are very proud of.
'The last few years have not been what the club deserves or what the history of this club says.
'This year, luckily, it has gone quite well. The Conference League, we managed to win it, and now we are in this final and we are in the Champions League.
'We are very proud to help the club to get back to where it deserves to be.'
See you in the final. 👋💙 pic.twitter.com/HaKWi0QAly
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 8, 2025
Joao Pedro scored both goals on his first Chelsea start as the Londoners proved too strong for the Brazilian outfit.
The striker, a former Fluminense player, only completed his £60million move from Brighton last week and he seized his chance to shine in the absence of the suspended Liam Delap.
'We are very happy with Joao,' said Maresca. 'We know that Joao is a very good player and he has qualities.
'Another thing that is important about Joao is that he was on holiday, so he's a bit more fresh compared to the rest.
'It is important to be aware of that but when you play every three days in this competition you need a big squad, you need all the players.'
Having reached the final, Chelsea are now guaranteed a payday of around £80million from their involvement in the tournament and have a chance to play for a jackpot exceeding £90million. The exact figure has not been made clear by tournament organiser FIFA.
This is a huge boost to the club coming in what is shaping up to be a busy summer in the transfer market. It also appears particularly timely, coming after they were punished by European governing body UEFA last week for breaches of financial regulations.
Maresca, however, insists the money is not his motivation.
'I am happy for the club but I don't care,' he said. 'When I prepare for a game, I don't prepare thinking, if we win, we have more money.
'It is something for the club, it is not for us, unfortunately. We already have a clear idea about what we need to improve for next season and hopefully we can have it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
26 minutes ago
- STV News
Paris St Germain set up final against Chelsea by brushing aside Real Madrid
European champions Paris St Germain produced a blistering performance to power into the Club World Cup final with a 4-0 rout of Real Madrid. A one-sided semi-final in New York on Wednesday was effectively settled inside the opening 24 minutes as Fabian Ruiz struck twice either side of an Ousmane Dembele effort. Spanish giants Real had no answer to the rampant Champions League winners, who added a fourth goal at the MetLife Stadium late on through Goncalo Ramos. PSG – who will play Chelsea in Sunday's final – were every bit as hot as the temperature, which reached 32C during the game. Luis Enrique named a side featuring 10 of the players that started the Champions League final hammering of Inter Milan including, for the first time in the tournament, Dembele. They seemed every bit as determined to reprise that famous victory as they tore into Europe's most storied team, who were without Trent Alexander-Arnold through injury. Real had sensed the need to make a quick start and Aurelien Tchouameni had a shot deflected wide after flicks from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe sparked an early attack but PSG were quickly into their stride. It took just six minutes for them to take the lead but already by then Kvicha Kvaratskhelia had gone close and Thibaut Courtois had saved from Ruiz and Dembele. The opener came after Raul Asencio dithered in front of goal and Dembele seized possession. It seemed he may have been brought down by Courtois but it did not matter as the ball rolled to Ruiz and the Spain international tucked home. Dembele doubled the lead just three minutes later, this time after a miskick by Antonio Rudiger allowed him to race through on goal. He gave Courtois no chance with a low finish. Real found no response and PSG made it 3-0 after 24 minutes as Achraf Hakimi played in Ruiz and he wrong-footed Federico Valverde before slotting past Courtois. It could have been more before the break as Kvaratskhelia put an opportunity wide and Courtois clawed away another effort from Dembele. Desire Doue put the ball in the net after the restart but was flagged offside. Real finally began to apply some pressure as the second half wore on with PSG easing off the gas. Yet they could find no way through a well-organised defence and Mbappe, making his first start of the competition against his former side, fired one effort into the crowd. Substitute Ramos wrapped up the scoring with three minutes remaining, turning to fire home from a Bradley Barcola lay-off after Real had failed to combat a quick counter-attack. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
38 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti sentenced to jail term in Spain for tax fraud
A Spanish court also fined the former Real Madrid manager 386,000 euros (£332,000). Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has been sentenced to a one-year prison term for tax fraud when he was Real Madrid manager in 2014. A Spanish court also fined Ancelotti 386,000 euros (£332,000) on Wednesday. Prosecutors in Madrid accused Ancelotti of defrauding the state of 1.0 million euros (£750,000) in 2014 and 2015. State prosecutors sought a prison sentence of up to four years and nine months on two counts of tax fraud. They accused Ancelotti of having used shell companies to hide his true earnings in March 2024. Prosecutors claimed Ancelotti, for example, used one company that lacked 'any real (economic) activity' in the Virgin Islands as part of an alleged scheme. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Carlos Sánchez, Ancelotti's press officer, told the Associated Press that the coach 'will not make comments for now. Brazil's football confederation said in a statement that it was following the case. The Italian coach is the latest in a string of major football figures to face a crackdown by Spanish authorities over unpaid taxes, although none have actually been sent to prison so far. That list includes star players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Jose Mourinho, another former Madrid coach. In Spain a judge can suspend a sentence of less than two years for first-time offenders. Brazil's football confederation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ancelotti, who turned 66 last month, is one of the sport's most successful coaches. He is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times, three with Madrid and twice with AC Milan, and the only coach to have won domestic league titles in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. Ancelotti left his second stint at Real Madrid to take over Brazil's national team.
Daily Mirror
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Carlos Cuesta adds Arsenal attacker to transfer shortlist after Noni Madueke bid
Carlos Cuesta recently left Arsenal to become the head coach of Italian side Parma Parma are understood to have made initial enquiries over the potential signing of Arsenal attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira. The 25-year-old Portugal international recently returned to north London following a season-long loan at Porto. Vieira joined the Gunners in June 2020 in a deal worth up to £34.2million including add-ons. However, so far, the move has failed to work out for the versatile forward and it's highly likely he will now leave the club this summer. Reports in Italy suggest Carlos Cuesta - Mikel Arteta's former assistant - is keen on bringing Vieira to Parma as part of his new-look project. Cuesta spent almost five years at the Emirates working alongside Arteta but now he's embarking on his first-ever managerial role in Serie A. Arsenal are ready to sell Vieira and would be open to doing business with the Italians, should they wish to formalise their interest. The playmaker, who can also play out wide, recently featured for Porto at the Club World Cup and mustered just five goals and six assists in 42 appearances for the Portuguese giants last season. Parma's interest in Vieira comes amid Arsenal's pursuit of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke. The Gunners are believed to have signalled their willingness to pay around £50m for the England international inclusive of bonuses. Negotiations and discussions remain ongoing but it's understood that figure is not a million miles away from satisfying Chelsea's valuation. Arsenal are also open to adding further attacking recruits should they get deals done for Madueke and Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. Crystal Palace starlet Eberechi Eze and Real Madrid winger Rodrygo remain on their radar but there may need to be sales in order to get all of their targets through the door. Vieira is valued at around £17m and Arsenal are open to taking a hit on him given that he's failed to set the world alight in three seasons at the club. He has two years left to run on his current contract in north London and Arsenal will want to avoid a situation where his value decreases any further.
