Maresca: 'Proud' of Chelsea's CWC last 16 berth

Enzo Maresca believes Atlético Madrid's aboriginal exit from the Club World Cup should marque Chelsea arrogant of reaching the circular of 16.

The Blues volition look Benfica successful Charlotte connected Saturday aft beating Esperance de Tunis 3-0 done goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and substitute Tyrique George to seal 2nd spot successful Group D.

Atlético were knocked retired of a choky radical including Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo and Maresca said: "It is important for america due to the fact that 32 clubs are successful this tournament, present 16. There are clubs successful the past 5 oregon six years, they play Champions League last similar Atlético Madrid and they are already successful Spain.

"So we request to beryllium proud, we request to beryllium happy. And now, from the [top] 16, the people is to spell to the archetypal eight."

Delap marked an encouraging show successful sweltering conditions astatine Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field with his archetypal extremity since joining Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30million earlier this month.

"We expect the process to beryllium rather speedy with Liam and the crushed wherefore helium is due to the fact that we cognize him and helium knows america successful the mode we privation to play," said Maresca.

"For Dário Essugo, for Mamadou [Sarr] oregon adjacent for Andrey [Santos] who was with conscionable the past pre-season, it is going to beryllium a small spot much analyzable due to the fact that they don't cognize the mode we privation to play exactly.

"But Liam arsenic I said, we cognize each different precise bully truthful the process is rather speedy and past it is besides due to the fact that helium is simply a precise bully player."

Maresca ruled retired making immoderate changes to his squad with contention rules allowing for up to 2 players to beryllium added up of the circular of 16.

Wesley Fofana has been grooming with the radical arsenic helium bids to instrumentality pursuing hamstring country successful April but Maresca added: "For Wes, helium is present due to the fact that helium is trying to beryllium with us, to retrieve with america but determination is nary accidental helium tin beryllium progressive successful the squad. At the infinitesimal determination is not immoderate program to bring different players."