New Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has made a frank admission about what the Blues are lacking to close the gap on football’s top sides – experience. In a refreshingly honest press conference, Maresca emphasised the importance of adding seasoned players to his youthful Chelsea squad, which has largely been built around potential since the club’s takeover in 2022.

“For sure, if you want to close the gap with these kind of clubs then, for sure, you have to do things,” Maresca stated. It’s a clear message to the Chelsea board – if the ambition is to compete with the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, then there’s more work to be done in the transfer market.

Chelsea’s strategy under the current ownership has heavily leaned toward signing young talent, with no players over 26 brought in since the 2022 summer window. While this policy is designed with long-term success in mind, it has left the team short on battle-tested leaders – the kind of players who thrive under pressure and can steer the ship in tough moments.

Maresca was also quick to point out the internal growth he’s already seen, highlighting Levi Colwill as an example.
“Our team next season will be better also in terms of experience because this season has been one more year together,” Maresca explained.

“There are ones who are growing, like Levi [Colwill] for instance. He is growing a lot in terms of leadership.”

Colwill has indeed shown maturity beyond his years, and Chelsea fans will be encouraged by his progression. But Maresca understands that counting solely on natural development isn’t enough. “For sure, next year he will be better and better. Hopefully, the ones that we have, they can grow and help us in terms of experience.”

The coach also drew from the club’s European campaign as a learning point, recalling a nervy performance despite a strong first-leg advantage.
“The Warsaw game we won 3-0 there [in the first leg] and at home we struggled, and that has been a good experience. But you have to go through this moment to learn.”

“Now we can say, ‘OK guys, it’s already happened. It’s not going to happen again.’ Otherwise that means there’s a problem. We need that kind of experience to improve.”