UPBEAT ENZO INSISTS ‘WE'LL GET BETTER’ AS HIS BLUES FAIL TO LAUNCH

ENZO MARESCA clung onto Chelsea's clean sheet like a comfort rug as big-spending Blues began the season with a whimper.

- Mike walters

After spectacular pre-match fireworks to celebrate their Club World Cup triumph, Maresca's side served up the equivalent of soggy blue touchpaper.

But while Chelsea immediately lost ground on the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City on the first day of term, their Italian boss is refusing to be downbeat. He said: “I don't think about where we will finish in May or June. I only think about the next game. For now, it's just about Friday at West Ham, no more than that.” Maresca tried not to use Chelsea's truncated preseason as an excuse for their lack of sharpness yesterday.