With six matches to play in the Premier League and a two-legged Conference League semi-final to come against Djurgarden, there is much for the Blues to play for at home and abroad in the next six weeks.

We remain in the hunt to secure Champions League football for next season – finishing fifth or higher in the Premier League will do so – while Maresca's side are now just 180 minutes of football away from sealing a place in a European final.

It's why every game matters, something Maresca stressed ahead of Sunday's trip to west London neighbours Fulham.

‘At this moment [of the season], there is no bad time to play,' the Blues head coach said. 'There is only the right time to play a game.

'We have six Premier League games plus the two semi-final matches, so we have eight official games to play at the moment and they are all important. Now is the moment to go, if we want to reach something.

‘Chelsea is a big club, a huge club, one of the biggest clubs in the world. So it’s normal that you have pressure. When you decide to sign for Chelsea, you have to think you are under pressure because it’s Chelsea. It’s the same for the manager, no doubt.

'So if we have a game away and there is worry [about that], we are in the wrong way.’

To finish the season well, Maresca knows he needs improved numbers from the attacking members of his squad. That is something he has stressed to them, and continues to work hard in training on achieving.

‘What we have said to all our offensive players is we need more goals and assists. Jadon in the last games is doing better but we need goals and assists from Nico, Cole, Noni, Enzo, who is doing well. We need them from those who are arriving in the opposition box.’

On Palmer and Jackson, who both started against Legia, Maresca added: ‘I’m confident because they have scored goals, it’s just they need to turn a little. But Cole before scored 14 goals in 20 Premier League, Nico was the same before his injury.

'Unfortunately, Nico was out for two months, so probably physically he needs to [improve] a little bit more and it is the same for Cole [after his injury].'