""For me, playing at Newcastle is always difficult," Maresca said. "Night or day, they are a very good team. Their manager is fantastic and has done a fantastic job for years. "Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, [Lewis] Miley also, they are all fantastic players, international players. "They complete with each other. They are physically strong and good on the ball. They are 100% complete, perfect. It's difficult for any team to face them.""
"Both sides will be glad for the break that will come after this game, having each competed on three fronts so far this season, with both progressing to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup this week. Newcastle are next in action on Boxing Day at Manchester United, with Chelsea facing Aston Villa a day later. Yet they will each be desperate to go into that brief interruption to their hectic schedules on the back of a victory. Newcastle's cup win over Fulham helped lift the mood after their derby defeat to Sunderland, but criticism of Eddie Howe will likely increase if the Magpies fail to get a positive result against the Blues."
Newcastle United host Chelsea at St James' Park with both managers under scrutiny ahead of the final game before Christmas. Both teams have competed on three fronts this season and reached the EFL Cup semi-finals. Newcastle face Manchester United on Boxing Day while Chelsea play Aston Villa the following day. Newcastle seek momentum after a cup win over Fulham and a derby loss to Sunderland, with Eddie Howe facing potential criticism if results do not improve. Maresca has dismissed speculation linking him to Manchester City, while Chelsea's league form remains poor with only one win in five games.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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