Maresca defends Chelsea's progress despite pressure, injury woes

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his team's progress amid recent fan unrest and disappointing results, maintaining that the club is on the right track compared to previous seasons. Despite dropping to sixth place in the Premier League after draws with Brentford and Ipswich Town and a loss to Legia Warsaw, Maresca emphasized that Chelsea has spent most of the season in the top four and is still contending for a Champions League spot. He attributed recent struggles to temporary issues such as goal droughts from key attackers and injuries, noting that Romeo Lavia is set to return against Fulham but will be eased back into action. Maresca acknowledged fan frustration over the team's playing style and specific match incidents but insisted he would not change his tactical approach. While improvements are supported by defensive and attacking statistics, critics question whether these advances are sufficient given Chelsea's resources and expectations. The manager stressed the importance of embracing the pressure in the season's final matches to achieve their goals.