Enzo Maresca will be hoping his Chelsea side can continue their great run of form when unbeaten Brighton travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Since returning from the international break earlier in the month, the Blues have started as they mean to go, picking up three wins in a row as well as keeping clean sheets in all three.
The West Londoners picked up back-to-back league victories on the road against Bournemouth and West Ham before dismantling League Two side Barrow AFC 5-0 in the Carabao Cup third round earlier in the week.
However, Chelsea face a tough task ahead of them when Fabian Hurzeler and Brighton and make the journey from the South Coast to West London, in what is set to be an intriguing encounter.
Here is what Maresca had to say from his pre-match press conference:
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An improving defence
While Chelsea have been scoring goals for fun so far this season, their recent defensive performances have certainly gone under the radar, but Maresca has made sure that this will not go unnoticed.
Having conceded five goals in the opening three Premier League games, keeping clean sheets in the last three matches has certainly shown the Blues are gradually improving at the back.
"It’s [keeping clean sheets] important because if we don’t concede it means we have more chance to win in case you score," said the Italian.
"It’s also important the feeling we have. We conceded two goals against Man City, but we didn’t concede many chances – and City are a team that in every game have a big amount of chances and goals.
"Against Wolves, we conceded two goals but in the second half we didn’t concede a shot. Defensively we can improve many things, but we are heading in the right direction."
The Chelsea boss continued by saying: "That doesn’t mean that in every game we’re not going to concede, that isn’t real.
"For sure we will concede, but it’s important we improve the concept between the whole team and that when we talk about the defensive line, we are not only talking about the defensive players."
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Leaders within the team
Once again, Euro 2024 winner Marc Cucurella will be facing up against his former side Brighton, two years on from swapping Sussex for West London. The left-back will be hoping to continue his good run of form at the back.
Maresca has certainly been impressed with the Spaniard, who has started in all five of Chelsea's Premier League matches so far this season.
"Marc has something that you sometimes struggle to find in players. He is good and he is making the players around him good because he is a guy who is always talking, always demanding.
"If you can have five, six or seven players like Marc in your team, who are always talking about improving the rest, it’s very important. So I’m very happy with Marc."
Another player that has also caught the eye of Maresca is summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo, a player whom the Italian has known from his time at Manchester City.
"I’m very impressed with him, especially the way he behaves outside the pitch and inside the pitch. He is one of the leaders in the dressing room, so we are delighted with him" the boss commented.
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Romeo Returns
Ahead of this weekend's match, Enzo Maresca will be boosted by the return of 20-year-old Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia, who has been out of action for the past month following a hamstring injury.
Since joining the club at the start of last season, Lavia's Chelsea career to date has been plagued by injuries, missing almost the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign. However, under Maresca, the Belgian will be hoping to put his injury worries behind him.
"Romeo is back available. We will see [whether he can start the game or be one of the substitutes]. We have one more session now and then we will decide. The important thing is he’s back and available, which is very good news.
"Everyone else is okay to face Brighton, the only one [who will be missing] is Reece. With Reece, he is still out and there is no real update on him at the moment."
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Squad selection headache
Due to the size of the squad, Maresca had the luxury of being able to field an entirely new starting eleven for Tuesday's cup game against Barrow AFC, giving other players the opportunity to impress the manager.
One player in particular who will stake a claim for a start against Brighton is Christopher Nkunku, who netted a hat-trick on Tuesday night. However, with Nicolas Jackson in good form too, the Italian will be left with a tough decision to make.
"I think it’s good for me to have some doubts. That means they are doing well and take the chance when we give it to them.
"This is something important and something we need to continue to do because I think we create the right culture in terms of the team competing and this is important" said Maresca.
