Enzo Maresca snaps at reporter as tetchy Chelsea boss rattled by Champions League question

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was involved in a bizarre exchange with a reporter as he took offence to the suggestion that his side should be in the Champions League.

The Italian would have been delighted to see his team make it two wins from two in the UEFA Conference League after a 4-1 win over Panathinaikos on Thursday.

But the 44-year-old was less amused with the line of questioning he received from the media in his post-match press conference in Greece.

When it was put to Maresca that Chelsea were a Champions League team – rather than one playing in Conference League – the Blues coach responded with a tetchy tone and a question of his own.

The reporter asked: “Chelsea are not a team of the Conference League but a Champions League team. Do you think you are going to give more attention to this competition?”

Maresca then replied: “Can I ask a question to you? If we are a Champions League club, then why are we playing Conference League?”

When the reporter elaborated that the 2023-24 season was an unfortunate situation, Maresca then said: “It’s because last year, we qualified for the Europa League and then we play Conference.

“If we play Conference, then it’s because in this moment we belong to the Conference. If next year or two years we play Champions League, then it is because we deserve to play Champions League.

“I think football always puts you where you deserve to be. If we play Conference then it’s because we deserve it.

Chelsea have now scored four goals in both of their league phase matches after beating Gent 4-2 in the opening game of the competition.

They face Armenian minnows FC Noah, who were only founded back in 2017, next at Stamford Bridge.

“The first target for us is the group stage and then we will go game by game and we will see. The important thing now is to finish the group stage well and qualify for the next round.”