Every word Enzo Maresca said on Chelsea transfer plans and Crystal Palace clash

The full transcript from Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca ahead of the Blues' Premier League opener with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca has just completed his first press conference of the new season with the Chelsea head coach previewing his side's clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

The world champions welcome the Eagles to Stamford Bridge in little over 48 hours' time as they look to kickstart the new campaign with a bang. Maresca spoke to a room full of journalists at the club's training centre in Cobham this morning and here is every word he had to say.

How ready do you feel you and the squad are?

We guess we are ready but we need to wait for the real competition to verify that. As you said, it has been quite a short break. We are going to try to be ready.

Unique situation - is this a learning curve for you as a manager?

Yes, for sure it is something new. It is something that unfortunately we do not know the answer because it has never happened before. For me, for the sports scientists, for the doctor, it is something new. We do not know the answer and we are going to react on this new situation. That is why we need to pay attention to all the details.

How is Levi Colwill?

He is okay. I am aware that he has to be out for a long time. It is a big loss for us. You know how important Levi has been for us last season, for the way we want to play. We said many times that we are able to create chances and to attack in the right way if we are able to build in the right way. Levi was a huge part of our build-up and now he is out and we are going to try to find a different solution.

Is it a different solution internally or externally?

We are trying to find a solution internally but the club know exactly what I think.

What do you think?

I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but as I said, the club know exactly what I think.

If there is no other business between now and the close of the window, would you be happy with the squad you have got to attack a season that includes Champions League football this year?

We have a fantastic squad. We are happy with the squad we are, no doubt. But we said many times that when the window is open, anything can happen.

What are your expectations out of this Chelsea side this year? Because it feels like there is a completely different aura around the club, not just internally but externally. A lot of fans are tipping Chelsea to compete for the Premier League title this season...

For me, this shows how good the team has been last season. Because as you said, when I joined the club one year ago, the noise around the club was completely different noise compared to now, for many reasons. Now personally, I always say the I don't like to look in two months, in three months, in four months, because that doesn't exist in football.

I like to watch tomorrow, I like to be focused on tomorrow's game, which will be in two days against Palace. Then in terms of target, my personal target, the target of the team is to try to improve every day and then we'll see what happens.

What do you make of Arne Slot saying he expected Chelsea to compete for the title last season?

This is what Slot said about us last season?

Yeah, about Chelsea last season.

I don't know, to be honest. I said already, I don't pay attention to what the other people say about us. Also because it's easy to say that more clubs are involved. I don't like to play this kind of game. I like to be focused on players, try to improve and then what they say, they can say what they want.

How much stronger do you think your squad is going into this season compared to this time last season?

We are a better team for sure, compared to one year ago. The reason why is because we work together every day for one season. I think what the club, what the team achieved the first season has been top, fantastic. Finishing Champions League, Conference League, that was the competition we were in. The club worked hard. More than this, it was quite difficult to achieve something more. Now it's a new season and we'll see.

Crystal Palace on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. How big a test will it be?

It will be very, very difficult. It has been the Community Shield, it has been the FA Cup against City. They beat in two finals, probably the two best teams in the last 10 to 15 years in England, Man City and Liverpool. It will show how competitive we will be on Sunday.

Reflecting on your games against them last season, arguably two games that Chelsea could have won, should have won?

I think in both games we probably deserved something more, but sometimes you don't deserve and you get points, so it's football, it's normal. But for sure, as I said, the two finals they won show how good they are.

You said Wesley Fofana could be back in the matchday squad at the weekend. Is that still the case?

He could be available. We'll see.

How are Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Trevoh Chalobah?

Benoit is in the process to come back. Romeo Lavia is exactly the same and Trev is okay.

Are other centre-backs able to step up on the left side of defence in Colwill's absence?

It's not on the left side. When we build, we build with Levi in the middle. It's different to the player in the middle on the left side. Last year we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin. Now Levi is out. The only one that he can do that job well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League, these kind of players.

The rest, they can adapt. Hato is a new one, he never played as the guy in the middle last season. So it's not about being a central defender. Yes, [he is a] central defender. Can he do that? It's different, it's not just about that.

And also we have players that unfortunately, like Wes or Benoit, they have in this moment some problems. And this is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders.