Appointed Blues head coach in the summer, Maresca has made a strong start to life at Stamford Bridge. Performances have been consistent, as have our results. And after 15 Premier League matches, Chelsea sit second in the table.

That has somewhat naturally led to Maresca facing questions from journalists about whether his young side is ready to launch a title charge. His answer has always been the same: 'We're not ready yet.'

It's not a response born out of a lack of ambition; Maresca has repeatedly stated he wants to add more silverware to the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet. But he knows the work that must be undertaken to reach that point, and it starts on the training pitches at Cobham.

'I like to convince myself and the players that the only way to fight for something or compete for something is to be focused on the day-to-day,' says Maresca. 'If you start to think one month, two months, three months ahead, it’s the beginning of a bad time.'

He adds: 'The good thing is I like to think day by day. This is not something I say because I have to say it, I really think it's the way to improve myself and also my players.

'Just focus on what we can do better in terms of our training session or improving players and the team. Then at what moment can we think of something different? I don't know.'

With a Serie A title won with Juventus, multiple domestic and European trophies lifted at Sevilla, Premier League and Champions League triumphs celebrated as an assistant coach and a Championship title secured as a head coach, Maresca knows the atmosphere that exists inside a successful dressing room.

'You can smell and feel it,' he explains. 'And probably the reason why I say we’re not ready is because we do not feel that or smell that at this moment. Hopefully, soon we can be there but at this moment, it’s one of the reasons why I think we’re not there.'