Chelsea coach Maresca affirms that Jackson ‘acknowledges his error’ before facing United.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed satisfaction with his team’s standing ahead of their Friday night showdown against Manchester United.

Currently placed fifth, Maresca acknowledged this morning that securing victories in their last two Premier League matches will guarantee the Blues a spot in the Champions League.

He stated: “Absolutely. At the beginning of the season, if someone had told us we’d need to win our final two games to qualify for the Champions League, we would have been pleased. For the first five or six months, we were in second or third, which was even better. We will strive to finish on a high note.”

“From day one, the club communicated to me that in two years, we want to be competing in the Champions League. However, when you’re entrenched in the top four for the entire season, it’s only natural for your ambitions to shift.”

“What has changed is that being in that position all season elevates the expectations to reaching the top four or five. I believe we’ve had a solid season that could turn into an exceptional one if we can secure a top-five finish and claim the Conference League.”

When questioned about facing a faltering United side, Maresca emphasised: “My focus is solely on our performance. It’s already challenging to assess our situation from the inside, so it’s even more complex from the outside. We aim to put in our best effort; the rest is for them to consider.”

“In my view, it’s not about whether this is the right time to take them on. What matters is us. I feel the team is in a positive state. In our last 10 Premier League matches, we’ve accumulated 20 points. An average of two points per game is promising for reaching a Champions League spot.”

Jackson Acknowledges Error

In addition, Maresca addressed the setback against Newcastle United last week, where Chelsea suffered a defeat in a crucial match for top-four contention, and Nicolas Jackson received a red card.

Regarding his striker, Maresca remarked: “I believe Nico is savvy enough to realise that a mistake was made.”

“Against Newcastle, it marked our first red card of the season. We aim for intensity and aggression, I’m not sure, to be honest. It’s a valid question, and we’ll need to analyse it over the summer to see how we can improve.”

On Jackson’s situation, the manager added: “For me, age doesn’t matter. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s acceptable. If the error recurs, then it’s potentially a concern. Over the summer, we need to assess and review these situations.”

“We must address the yellow cards we can prevent next season. It’s natural for Nico to come under scrutiny after a red card, but in the grand scheme, this issue must be tackled regardless of the opponent or the match.”

Tactical Adjustments Required

Maresca acknowledged that Jackson’s suspension poses challenges, especially with Christopher Nkunku also sidelined due to injury.

The Italian confirmed that young forward Marc Guiu remains unavailable: “We’re actively working on solutions. Sadly, our options are limited. Marc Guiu is still injured.”

“It will depend on our game plan. When facing a five-man defence, I prefer to deploy a true No.9 to exploit space behind. However, against a four-man backline, a false nine allows for better link-up play. We need to find an alternative approach.”

Despite the disappointment of last week’s loss, Maresca remained optimistic: “I believe we demonstrated even greater bravery in the second half. The team has consistently shown courage; sometimes it’s influenced by the opposing team, but other times it’s not.”

“The spirit, unity, and effort we exhibited in the second half were tremendous, and that’s something we absolutely must carry into our next two matches.”