Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has urged his players to stay focused on their top-four pursuit as they prepare for a crucial Premier League clash against Leicester City this weekend.

Speaking after Chelsea’s 2-1 win over FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League, Maresca emphasised the importance of shifting attention to the Premier League race:

“Also, because it has been a little bit of a sloppy goal. We can avoid that. It’s football, it can happen. Now 90 minutes have finished and now we have 90 more minutes against them.”

Chelsea currently sit fifth in the table, just one point behind the top four, making their upcoming match against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge a must-win encounter. Maresca called on Chelsea fans to back the team for the full duration of the game:

“The main game for us is Sunday’s game, at home and we need our fans for 100 minutes behind the team and pushing the team.”

Maresca, who led Leicester to Premier League promotion last season, knows the challenge his former side presents but believes a victory would be a big step toward securing a Champions League spot:

“If we can win against Leicester on Sunday, we can do one more step to finishing in the Champions League… top four or top five, I do not know.”

With the battle for a Champions League place still wide open, Chelsea will look to secure back-to-back league wins and continue their push toward Europe’s elite competition.