"But what happened last season, it seems they are back on track. They gave trust to Enzo, he brought his ideas. The Conference League is an easy competition to win for a big club, I did it with Roma. The Club World Cup badge means a lot. Congratulations to them. I think that gives them a place of trust, of confidence."
"Benfica will be the fourth club I've come here with, it's a stadium where I won't feel any kind of antagonism, I think. But it wouldn't hurt me either. I can isolate myself without any problem. As they say, 'I'm not a Blue anymore.' I'm a Red [Benfica], and I want to win. Of course I will always be a Blue. I am part of their history and they are part of my history. I helped them become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me to become bigger at Chelsea."
Chelsea appear to have left a period of disappointment and regained direction under coach Enzo Maresca after winning the Conference League and then the Club World Cup, including an upset of Paris Saint-Germain in the final. Those trophies have delivered confidence and a restored club identity following doubts. The Benfica manager returns to Stamford Bridge for a Champions League group game and maintains close local ties, attending matches with his son. Past achievements at Chelsea include three Premier League titles, and the club is assessed as capable of challenging for the Champions League.
Read at ESPN.com
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