Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has dismissed any notion of underestimating bottom-of-the-table Southampton ahead of their crucial Premier League clash. The Blues boss insists that every remaining fixture is vital as they push for a top-four finish.

“When you are at Chelsea, you don’t have games you don’t prepare to win. Our duty is to prepare every game to win. We have 12 games to go and all of them are must-win for us.”

Asked about the possibility of suffering a shock defeat, Maresca remained composed, highlighting football’s unpredictability.

“It is football. You are older than me, I guess, and you know better than me that football is full of these kind of things. If you see a few games ago, the Man United one, they were winning until the end but Man United won the game.”

With Chelsea’s Champions League hopes on the line, Maresca is determined to ensure his side is fully prepared for every challenge ahead.