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FIFA Club World Cup: Enzo Maresca delivers warning to his Chelsea players
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has stressed the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup as he fixed his sights on winning a “big, big tournament.”
The Blues face Los Angeles in their Group D opener later today with all 63 games available to watch free and live on DAZN .
This season saw Chelsea finish fourth in the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification next term, and win the Conference League in Poland.
After thumping Spanish side Real Betis 4-1 in Wroclaw, Chelsea became the first club to win the Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup and Conference League – taking their European trophies to nine.
But Maresca said: “We had a few days off [after the Conference League final] and some new players have arrived, so when we saw each other three or four days ago at Cobham, the feeling was a little bit like when you return for pre-season.
“But the first thing I said, and the main message since we returned, is that we are not here for pre-season, it’s a big, big tournament.
“We achieved something important by finishing in the top four in the Premier League, and we won the European competition we were in. But now that is done, finished, and we have to focus on the competition we are in now.”
Chelsea’s opener at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the first game of Group D, which also includes Brazilian club Flamengo and Tunisian side ES Tunis.
Maresca's team are favourites to progress, but the Blues boss is taking nothing for granted and warned they could be “in trouble” should they fail to approach the game in the right manner.
The Italian added: “We had one competition this season, the Conference League, and the most difficult thing was convincing the players that it was the game of the season for our opponents, so if you don’t prepare in the right way, you can be in trouble.
“We have a difficult game and if we are not ready and prepared, we can be in trouble. So we must prepare 100%.
“And no matter who the other team is, when you are a Chelsea player or head coach, you need to win games.
“So hopefully, we can start the competition by winning the game.”
Watch all 63 matches of the 2025 Club World Cup live on DAZN. More information and to sign up for a free account here.
