Chelsea star’s seven-word statement demonstrates massive change under Enzo Maresca

• Chelsea
• Chelsea Players
• Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has been in charge of Chelsea for just over a year, with a clear mentality shift in that time in both the Premier League and Europe.

Chelsea star Josh Acheampong has outlined the club’s ambitions this season. The Blues are back in action tonight when they host Ajax in the Champions League league phase.

Chelsea have lost one and won one of their two games in the competition so far, leaving them in 18th place in the league. A win over Ajax is likely to see them climb further up the table as they aim to get to the knockout round.

And Acheampong has made no secret of the ambitions of the club in both the Champions League and Premier League. “I think every fixture is important,” he told SportsBoom. “I think we go into every game with the same mentality to try and win.

“So hopefully we can do that in the Premier League and the Champions League. The main goal is to win trophies.

“Whether that be in the Champions League or The Premier League. I think we have high aspirations as a team."

The comments from the centre-back signal a change in mentality from just a year ago. After a positive start to the season last year, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made his stance on the club competing for the Premier League title clear.

“I really don’t think we can compete with City or Arsenal. I really don’t think that because we are not ready,” he said. “The reason is that City has worked with the same manager for nine years and Arsenal five years. If you want to compete for big things, you need that time.

“After Arsenal beat PSG, they asked Luis Enrique and he said the same thing, that ‘Arsenal have had the same manager for five years and us [PSG] a year and a half’. Imagine us, three months … so it’s a huge difference.

“So I am really convinced we cannot compete with those clubs. The target is to improve and slowly, slowly to get closer to those clubs, but at the moment we are not ready for that.”

Last season ended with two trophies for Chelsea, with the club winning the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup. Their Premier League position also booked them a place in the Champions League.

Chelsea have had a mixed start to the new Premier League season, but two wins in a row against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest see them sit in fifth place in the table, five points behind leaders Arsenal.

Following the match against Ajax, the Blues are back in league action on Saturday when they take on newly-promoted Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.