Chelsea’s push for a top-four berth will continue against Leicester City as Blues boss Enzo Maresca prepares for a reunion with his former employers.
The West London giants made a swashbuckling start to the campaign under the Italian, emerging as potential title contenders during the early months of the season. However, that challenge eventually ran out of steam, with the Stamford Bridge outfit having won just three out of its last 10 games in the Premier League.
Amid this downturn in form, talisman Cole Palmer’s fortunes in front of goal have also tailed off in recent times and the Englishman has now gone eight outings without finding the net. The former Manchester City starlet will have the opportunity to add to his tally of 14 goals across the term during the visit of Leicester on Sunday.
As for boss Maresca, he is looking forward to what will be an emotional reunion with the Foxes, with his friendship with current head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy only adding to the goodwill between the two sides ahead of the clash. He said: “Ruud is a friend of mine. We played together and then after we have been in contact.
“When Leicester called, he thought to call me and we had a chat. I said to him that Leicester is a fantastic club run by fantastic people. I have said many times, I’m 30 years in football and it was probably the best people in football that I’d met. So I told him many good, positive things about Leicester.”
However, the Italian was eager to stress that he is focused on the job of masterminding victory this weekend, adding: “In this moment, I’m focused on us. Now I’m here, I’m just thinking about us, how we can improve and then it’s more for Ruud, for the sporting director, for the owner to find a solution.”
(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy will be hopeful of arresting Leicester’s alarming slide, with the Foxes having lost five games on the spin in all competitions. Vowing to put things right, the ex-Manchester United forward insisted: “The approach is, and always has been, to get the maximum amount out of the game, and to win.
If you can’t win, then to protect the result at the end. It’s a similar approach to Sunday as it is for all the games. We’re in a situation where we all have to show our character and be resilient to the circumstances, but still be able to show the best of the team. That is a collective thing, and you have to lead by example as a manager and as coaching staff.”
With his side sitting in 19th place in the standings, the Dutchman added: “He (Maresca) knows the squad but with all the games and how we’re able to analyse the opponents, we have the information to be prepared. We’ll be ready for Sunday.”
How to watch Chelsea vs. Leicester
U.K: Viewers in the U.K. will not be able to watch the game live on TV but coverage will be available via Chelsea FC’s official website and app on its Matchday Live show. Viewers can watch analysis before and after the game, while tuning into live commentary when the game kicks off at 2pm GMT on Sunday.
U.S: Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game live on USA Network and Telemundo. It is also available on streaming services Fubo, NBC Sports and Sling. The game kicks off at 10am ET on Sunday.
