Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is embracing the challenge ahead of tonight’s UEFA Conference League quarter-final first leg against Legia Warsaw.
The Blues travel to Warsaw knowing they’ll face not just a determined opponent, but a cauldron of noise, with Legia supporters expected to create a fervent and hostile atmosphere at Stadion Wojska Polskiego.
But Maresca, who took charge at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, views the occasion as a valuable opportunity.
Chelsea’s squad features a number of emerging talents, and Maresca believes that experiences like this are essential in shaping their character.
Maresca, no stranger to heated fixtures from his own playing career, drew on his experience in some of Europe’s fiercest derbies.
“We try to always give them the big picture, not only what they can do on and off the ball,” said Maresca.
“Sometimes you also need to show where you are going, because we have players from different parts of the world, so probably some of them don’t know exactly, so we also show them the environment in this stadium so they can adapt and be ready.
“The players have to think they are lucky to experience this kind of game and this kind of moment. We need to experience these kinds of games.
“For sure, we will be a better team for it. We are very young, but at the same moment need these games to improve.
“We cannot allow external things to change the way we feel or behave.”
He added: “The fans are the 12th player. You feel that. Probably tomorrow night they will have this extra player, but we need to be good enough to manage that situation.”
