Enzo Maresca has once again insisted that Chelsea are not in the Premier League title race despite moving two points behind leaders Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Sunday.

Marc Cucurella opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge – and was later sent off after the full-time whistle – while Nicolas Jackson also found the net.

The Blues have been in fine form in recent weeks, winning their last five top-flight matches, with many pundits claiming they’re now in a title race.

Maresca, though, has played down their chances of landing the trophy and that hasn’t changed despite closing the gap to Arne Slot’s side, who have a game in a hand.

Speaking after the win, Chelsea boss Maresca blamed Bryan Mbeumo’s late consolation goal as the reason and said: ‘No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we’re not ready to compete for the title.

‘One of the reasons is I think the team that knows how to compete to win titles will not concede a goal like we concede.
‘On 90 minutes, a throw-in for us and we concede a goal. A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they’re not to going to concede.

‘It’s why I continue to say that we are not ready for titles. Even if you don’t believe me.
‘I would love the pressure to compete for the title. But we cannot concede the goal we concede and open the game and give them the chance to take a point here.’
Meanwhile, Maresca also singled out goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for praise in his post-match press conference.

‘If you remember Bournemouth away with the penalty; Aston Villa at home when one-v-one with Ollie Watkins; Nottingham Forest at the end of the game with the save; and then tonight, he (Sanchez) has made the save,’ Maresca added.

‘We are happy with Robert and sometimes when we say things, you struggle to believe [us].
‘But Robert is doing fantastic and then Filip Jorgensen is doing the same thing in the Conference League.

‘This is exactly what we want. Two keepers who can compete and they can help us win games.’