Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca asserts that financial power doesn’t guarantee success ahead of semi-final clash.

Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has emphasised that “money does not win titles” as they prepare for the first leg of the Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden in Stockholm on Thursday.

The Swedish outfit has been put together at a mere fraction of the over £1 billion (approximately $1.3 billion) spent on player acquisitions at Stamford Bridge over the past three seasons, with Chelsea now under the stewardship of US billionaire Todd Boehly.

The two-time European champions have navigated their way through the third-tier competition with ease this season, suffering just one defeat during the quarter-final second leg against Legia Warsaw.

“You can’t win games or titles with just money,” Maresca stated during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “We understand that very well. It’s not solely about how much you invest in the transfer market.“

Chelsea finds themselves in a fierce domestic struggle to qualify for next season’s Champions League, currently holding the fifth qualifying spot in the Premier League.

“Spending vast amounts doesn’t guarantee titles. You need to invest wisely,” Maresca continued.

Djurgarden competes on an artificial pitch at their 30,000-capacity stadium, a surface most of Maresca’s squad has not encountered in their careers, raising concerns for the Chelsea manager regarding its condition.

“It’s a completely different experience,” he remarked. “In recent weeks, even some of their players have voiced concerns about the pitch. While it’s a different challenge, we won’t use that as an excuse to not compete.“

Chelsea will return home to face newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday, as they aim to maintain their place in fifth.

Maresca will be missing injured players Robert Sanchez and Christopher Nkunku in Sweden, though Nicolas Jackson is anticipated to start despite his recent return from injury.

“We are working on cultivating a winning mentality,” Maresca noted. “This is achieved by approaching every match with seriousness, regardless of the opponent.

“Building a winning mentality requires winning games; how else can you develop that mindset?

“The players recognise the importance of tomorrow’s match, but they also understand that the next game holds significance too.