Enzo Maresca explains why former club Leicester City may have an advantage over Chelsea this weekend

Enzo Maresca. (Deposit Photos)

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained why he thinks Leicester City may have an advantage over the Blues when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Saturday.

Maresca guided the Foxes to promotion from the Championship last season before swapping the King Power Stadium for Stamford Bridge in the summer.

At the Bridge, the Italian coach has enjoyed a fine start to life.

Chelsea are currently third in the Premier League after 11 games, and are breaking records in the Europa Conference League, which they are hot favourites to win.

Saturday will see Maresca return to his old stomping ground for the first time, and though Leicester are currently 15th in the top flight, Maresca knows it will be a tough test.

Enzo Maresca was Leicester City's manager last season. (Shutterstock)

"This is not an easy game," he told the press on Thursday. "You can see week after week that it’s always complicated. No matter which team you are, or where you are in the table, you struggle."

"But we are going to try to make sure we are focused and we are prepared in the best way to go and try to win," he added.

Asked if his previous experience as Leicester boss will help Chelsea at the weekend, Maresa said: "Probably it’s more on the other side."

"They know exactly what we do," he explained. "But we are going to try to adjust small details to see if we can do something different. But I think it’s more their side that they know us better than we know them."

Maresca on Leicester: "We have a special connection"

Maresca was appointed Leicester boss in June 2023, having previously served as one of Pep Guardiola's assistant managers at Manchester City.

In his sole season in the East Midlands, the Italian guided the Foxes back to the Premier League by way of winning the Championship.

Speaking about his time with the club, Maresca said: "It was a fantastic season. I met people there that it’s very difficult to find in football."

"The owner and his family are fantastic people, fantastic human beings," he added. "They care for the players, staff, all the people that work inside the club, and you can see that."

The 44-year-old also praised his former Leicester players, describing them as "top."

"I’m still in contact with most of them, we have a special connection," he said. "It was a fantastic season for me."

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. (Deposit Photos)

One player from his time at Leicester who Maresca is certainly still in contact with is midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The Englishman followed Maresca to Chelsea in the summer, and has since made 10 appearances for the Blues, scoring one goal.

Earlier this month, Dewsbury-Hall explained to the Leicester Mercury how he will react if he scores his second of the season against his former club.

“If I score against them I won’t celebrate," he said. "I wish them the best of luck for this season."