ENZO Maresca knows Chelsea is a club that “has to win” as he promised his team will play with a “clear idea” as he gave his first interview since joining as manager.
Maresca guided Leicester City to the Championship title in his only season in charge before the Blues paid £10million compensation for him this summer.
Maresca, 44, insisted his team would be “aggressive on and off the ball”.
“I’m very happy and excited. It’s been quite busy and that’s normal at the beginning. That’s always the same,” Maresca said on Chelsea’s website. “You are trying to get to know all of the people around the training ground and some of the players who are already in. But the feeling is fantastic.
“One of the reasons I’m here is because I’m convinced the squad is very good and full of talent. The most important thing now is we’re able to create the right culture that drives us for the season.
“I always say the same: if you are able to improve players then you are able to improve the team. So it’s our target to try to improve all of them day by day.
“I think every manager has their own idea or style. Mine is quite clear. Last year was very good but that is finished. It’s a new chapter, a new squad and a new club. I’m very happy to be here.”
Maresca managed the pressure last season when the Foxes were strong favourites to win promotion.
Maresca said: “It’s the main point because when you join a club like Chelsea, you know that it’s a club that has to win. So for us, we are going to try our best to be there, to fight and compete with the clubs that in this moment are winning and fighting to win titles.”
“[I] played under [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Marcello] Lippi, [Manuel] Pellegrini, all of them are very important managers. We all try to take things and then we create our own box with all these things inside.
“It’s what I’ve tried to do since I started thinking about being a manager.
“I’m very proud to be an Italian manager here again. Probably there is something between Chelsea as a club, as a family, and Italian people that works well!”
Maresca wants to build a strong connection between the team and the supporters.
“When you have your own fans behind the team pushing, it’s like playing with twelve players and this is what we have to create here,” he said.
“In this moment, when you join a club you try to analyse what the club and team needs to improve and do the right things. For me, it’s clear we need to create as soon as possible the right mentality and culture, a culture that the fans can be proud of. This is very important.
“We are going to try to be an aggressive team on the ball and off the ball and we need to create this connection between the fans and the club, especially at home.”
Maresca’s first competitive game in charge will be against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on August 18.
“I’ll feel very proud,” Maresca said. “I consider Chelsea one of the biggest clubs in the world so I will feel very proud of it.”
Maresca has one main message for his players and the fans: “Just trust the process, trust the idea, be behind the team. For sure we are going to enjoy the journey. Like at every club, for every manager, it will not be easy because nothing is easy. But for sure we are going to enjoy our journey.”
