Every word Enzo Maresca said on Jackson, Bayern Munich, Chelsea Champions League return

Enzo Maresca has just conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening.

The Blues are back among Europe's elite for the first time in two-and-a-half years as they face the German champions on their own patch. Chelsea are back at the Allianz Arena - the scene of their 2012 Champions League triumph - as they look to get their European adventure off to the perfect start.

Maresca previewed Chelsea's Champions League opener earlier this evening in his pre-match press conference. Below, football.london brings you every word the Blues head coach had to say:

In terms of actual squad with the Champions League, you're relatively inexperienced with the Champions League. However, obviously with your European success last year and the Club World Cup as well, how do you marry your expectations for this Champions League season?

First of all, we are very happy to be in this competition. One year ago, we were playing the Conference League play-off. We are happy to be here. For sure, winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup help in different aspects. In terms of experience, I think all of us, when we start something, we have a lack of experience. We have to start and we're going to start tomorrow.

Is there a belief from your side and within the squad that you can really challenge and go on and win this competition this season?

First of all, you know already since last season that I always like to go game by game. You cannot think about the final or semi-final if you are not able to win games in the group stage. It's the first thing tomorrow. We have the first one against a fantastic team that is probably one of the three, four or five favourites in this competition. We are going to try to do our job in the best way.

What did winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup mean? Have you noticed a difference in the squad since you came back?

Absolutely, yes. When you win a game, it helps to improve confidence, different things, different aspects. Knowing that every game is different, every competition is different. As I said, Bayern at this moment is probably one of the favourites, but we are going to try to do our best.

Obviously last season in the Conference League you were able to have almost two teams, a Premier League team and a European team. You won't be able to do that this time. Is it important that you field your best possible XI and will Cole Palmer start?

We try every game, even against Brentford. We try with our best XI. Game by game we are going to manage different problems. As I said in the last game, Cole was not 100% fit to play 90 minutes. Different players were out. Tomorrow we are going to try to put our best XIfor tomorrow's game. Cole, three days away, didn't play from the start because he was not able to do that. We'll see tomorrow.

Does the formation system you used in the final against PSG give you a template to use in these big games in the Champions League this season?

As I said before, for me every game is different. For that game against PSG, I think the first XI, the ones that were on in the second half, the plan, everything worked well. Tomorrow is a completely different game.

How do you feel about going up against Nicolas Jackson tonight? He is a Chelsea player. What do you think of that rule that online players in Europe can play against their parent clubs?

I said the other day that I am grateful to Nicolas because if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is because all the players, including Nicolas who was with us. I texted him after he left the club, telling him thanks for last season, wishing him all the best. Nicolas is a good guy, he was with us, he was working well. In terms of the rule, for me it is normal. I am from Italy, I played many years in Spain. This rule, when you are on loan, you can play, so for me it is okay.

Did he text you back?

Yes.

Another question regarding Jackson. You said that you are thankful. Could you explain why you didn't count on him for this new season and why you decided to let him join Bayern?

Because we both chose two strikers, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. I think having two strikers is a good number, it is enough.

Which goalkeeper will you use against Bayern?

Tomorrow Robert [Sanchez] will start, but for sure with the amount of games that we have, Filip [Jorgensen] is going to play games in the Premier League, in the Champions League, in the FA Cup, in the Carabao. We have so many games that for sure Robert cannot play all of them.

You did a great job rotating your squad last season, but is it a bit different when you are rotating your squad now to the Champions League because the level is so much higher?

It helps a lot if you are able to rotate players, especially probably at the beginning of the season. You can probably go with the same one then. It is a long season, many games, so I think you have to do that because you are also safe players, avoid injury. But it is something that is dictated game by game. It is not something that you can plan because probably you plan something and then any problem or any injury is not possible. We are going to try to rotate players knowing that, as you said, the Champions League is a bit different from last season's competition.

How highly do you rate Bayern Munich?

I think Bayern Munich is a team that already showed last year that they are very close and they can compete in this competition, try to win this competition. This is my personal view. I see them together with three or four more clubs like the favourite one for this competition, but it is my personal view.

Vincent Kompany earlier said that he has had a conversation with Nicolas about the way Chelsea play. Obviously, he knows the way he likes to set things up and tactics and so on. Is there any concern that Nicolas can obviously give Bayern the lowdown? And second, just to confirm that your relationship with Jackson is good because there have been some quotes out there today that perhaps it is not the best relationship...

Me with Nicolas? Me personally, again, I didn't have any kind of problem with Nicolas and I don't have any problem with Nicolas. Again, he is a good guy, good professional, works well with us and that's it. And then the other question here, probably can be a small advantage because he can ask Nicolas the way we work, the way we try to prepare a game. At the end, Nicolas was with us for one entire season so he knows exactly the way we approach games. But at the end, we see.