AFCON 2025
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed his team will give Liverpool a guard of honor on Sunday, as a mark of respect for the champions.
This gesture is not just a formality; Maresca believes it will serve as a motivational reminder for his players, encouraging them to aspire to similar greatness.
“It’s tradition. We have to do that, and we are going to do that. They won the Premier League, so they deserve it,” Maresca said.
The Italian coach acknowledged the significant gap between the two teams but expressed optimism about closing it.
“In terms of the gap between us and Liverpool, it is there, you can see this clearly. My feeling is we are [moving] in the right direction, and hopefully this gap can be smaller and smaller.”
Maresca hopes this gesture will inspire Chelsea’s players to think, “One day I would like to be there,” as they look to bridge the gap to Liverpool.
Chelsea were Liverpool’s closest challengers for a significant part of the season but lost momentum after losses to Fulham and Ipswich over Christmas.
