Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Chelsea will uphold custom and provides Liverpool a guard of honour after the Reds secured the Premier League title final weekend.
Within the English sport, the guard of honour dates again to 1955, when Man United supplied one for Chelsea after they gained the league with a sport to spare.
Chelsea will uphold the custom at Stamford Bridge forward of kick-off, as ought to Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace within the following fixtures.
“It’s custom. Now we have to do this, and we’re going to do this,” Maresca mentioned.
“They gained the Premier League, in order that they deserve it.”
He additionally famous the way it may present motivation for his gamers, saying: “I don’t suppose we have to give a guard of honour to know how good it’s to win the Premier League – we all know that it’s one thing very good.”
“However for positive, if you find yourself standing there, most likely of their minds our gamers are pondering, ‘I would love someday to be there’.”
“Subsequent season might be higher”
There are presently 22 factors between Liverpool and fifth-place Chelsea. Earlier within the season, nonetheless, the Londoners had been tipped to problem Arne Slot‘s aspect.
At Christmas, there have been simply 4 factors between the groups, however dropped factors in 10 matches have seen them fall away beneath Arsenal, Man Metropolis and Newcastle.
Maresca commented: “By way of the hole between us and Liverpool, it’s there, you possibly can see this clearly.
“My feeling is we’re [moving] in the fitting course and hopefully this hole will be smaller and smaller.
“The distinction is that they have been constant in comparison with us. For a part of the season we had been superb, after which we misplaced some video games.
“This has most likely been the principle motive why the hole is there – additionally by way of skilled gamers who know how you can win video games and these sorts of issues, I feel they’ve one thing extra in comparison with us.”
“For positive, if you wish to shut the hole with these form of golf equipment then you must do issues (like including expertise). Our staff subsequent season might be higher by way of expertise as a result of this season has been another 12 months collectively.”
Whereas Chelsea might properly enhance subsequent season, so ought to their rivals. They do have the benefit, although, of with the ability to spend seemingly infinite quantities on switch charges with few short-term repercussions.