Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has emphasized that financial investment alone is not enough to secure success, as his side prepares to face Swedish club Djurgarden in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-final on Thursday in Stockholm.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Maresca responded to comparisons between the two clubs’ budgets, noting that despite Chelsea’s spending of over £1 billion on players in the past three seasons, trophies are earned through more than just investment.
“You don’t win games and titles with money,” Maresca said. “We understand that well. What matters is how you spend, not just how much.”
Chelsea, now co-owned by American billionaire Todd Boehly, have enjoyed a strong run in the third-tier European competition, suffering just one loss so far away to Legia Warsaw in the quarter-final second leg.
While Chelsea are battling for a top-four finish in the Premier League, currently sitting fifth, Maresca is focused on maintaining momentum and instilling a competitive mentality within the squad.
“We’re building a winning mentality by treating every game as important regardless of the opponent,” he said. “How can you build a winning mindset without winning games?”
The manager also voiced concern about Djurgarden’s artificial pitch, an unfamiliar surface for most of his squad. “It’s different. Even their players have raised concerns in recent weeks. But it’s no excuse, we’re here to compete and win.”
Chelsea face a quick turnaround with a high-stakes Premier League clash against champions Liverpool on Sunday. In Sweden, they will be without injured duo Robert Sanchez and Christopher Nkunku, though striker Nicolas Jackson is expected to feature after recovering from injury.