'I really don't think that we can compete' - Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea will not be in title race as he claims they cannot match Arsenal and Manchester City

Maresca has won seven of his 10 matches since taking charge at Chelsea this summer but the former Leicester boss has downplayed his team's chances of competing at the top end of the Premier League this season.

After Chelsea's 4-2 win over Gent in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, he said: “I really don’t think we can compete with City or Arsenal. I really don’t think that because we are not ready. The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal for five years. If you want to compete for big things you need that time. After Arsenal beat PSG they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same thing that Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and them only a year and a half. Imagine us, only three months… so it’s a huge difference. So I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs."

While it is still early days, things are clicking at Chelsea under head coach Maresca's guidance. They sit fourth in the Premier League, just two points off league leaders Liverpool and one adrift of City and Arsenal. But we are just six games into the new season and the Blues are yet to play most of the teams in the top half of the table.

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon when they host Nottingham Forest, before teams head off for the international break. On their return to the Premier League on October 20, they take on Liverpool at Anfield.