by Pamela Schembri from London

The highly anticipated VisitMalta Weekender kicks off this weekend at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea taking on Bayer Leverkusen on Friday (kick off 20:00) and AC Milan (kick off 16:00) on Sunday. These two fixtures form part of Chelsea’s preseason preparations ahead of what promises to be an exciting new campaign.

In this morning’s press conference, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca shared his thoughts on the club's historic achievements, squad readiness, and the challenges of a condensed pre-season.

Fresh off winning the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time in the club’s history, Chelsea’s players returned from a short three-week holiday and resumed training last Monday. “This is a unique situation,” Maresca said. “We’ve just achieved something massive, but the real question is: how will the players respond? Will they ride the wave of confidence, or will the fatigue of a 64-game season take its toll?”

Despite the tight turnaround, the mood within the squad is said to be extremely positive. “There’s a lot of energy, the feel-good factor is back,” added Maresca. “We’ve worked hard since returning, and now it’s about managing recovery and getting everyone up to speed.”  Maresca also revealed that Levi Colwill sustained a knock in training on Monday and may miss the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace next weekend.

Speaking about the new arrivals, Maresca expressed confidence in the club’s transfer strategy so far. “I'm happy with the new signings. A few, like Jamie Gittens, are already familiar with the country, but for others, it’s a big transition. We’ll give them time to adapt to the league, the tempo, and the culture.”

On the possibility of more signings before the transfer window closes, Maresca remained open. “Anything can happen while the window is still open,” he said. “We’re always looking, but my priority is working with a core group. I don’t need a large squad—25 quality players are ideal.”

One of the most exciting names on fans' lips is Estevão Willian, the young Brazilian talent. “He’s a joy to watch and can play anywhere,” said Maresca. “But with players like him, it’s about managing their excitement. He’s still very young and comes from a very different footballing environment.”

With the VisitMalta Weekender offering two high-level fixtures in just 48 hours, Maresca emphasized that the focus will be on sharing minutes across the squad. “Unlike other teams, we started our pre-season late, so we have to be smart with how we use these games.”

The press conference was also attended by Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef and Chairperson Charles Mangion, underlining the strong cooperation between Chelsea and VisitMalta for the VisitMalta Cup Weekender.

The VisitMalta Weekender represents not only a chance for Chelsea to fine-tune tactics and fitness, but also a celebration of international football partnerships and destinations. Hosted at Stamford Bridge, the event shines a spotlight on Malta as a vibrant, world-class travel destination. The collaboration between Chelsea and VisitMalta, two strong brands, bringing fans a unique blend of sport, culture, and tourism.

minn Pamela Schembri f'Londra

Il-VisitMalta Weekender se jinżamm dan il-weekend fi Stamford Bridge, fejn Chelsea se jilagħbu kontra Bayer Leverkusen il-Ġimgħa (kick-off fit-20:00) u AC Milan il-Ħadd (kick-off fl-16:00). Dawn iż-żewġ logħbiet huma parti mill-preparazzjonijiet ta’ qabel l-istaġun ta’ Chelsea hekk kif jibda l-istaġun il-ġdid. 

F’konferenza tal-aħbarijiet dalgħodu, il-kowċ ta’ Chelsea Enzo Maresca esprima l-ħsibijiet tiegħu dwar is-suċċessi riċenti tal-klabb, il-preparamenti tal-iskwadra, u l-isfidi taż-żmien qasir tat-taħriġ. 

Wara li Chelsea rebħu t-Tazza tad-Dinja tal-Klabbs tal-FIFA għat-tieni darba fl-istorja tagħhom, il-plejers reġgħu lura minn vaganza ta’ tliet ġimgħat u bdew it-taħriġ mill-ġdid nhar it-Tnejn li għadda. “Din hija sitwazzjoni unika,” qal Maresca. “Għadna kemm ksibna suċċess kbir, imma l-mistoqsija vera hi: kif se jirrispondu l-plejers? Se jibqgħu għaddejjin b’din il-mewġa ta’ kunfidenza, jew l-għejja se tħalli impatt, hekk kif spiċċajna staġun ta’ 64 logħba?”

Minkejja l-ħin limitat ta’ mistrieħ, l-atmosfera fl-iskwadra hija deskritta bħala pożittiva ħafna. “Hemm ħafna enerġija, il-moral għoli reġa’ lura,” żied jgħid Maresca. “Ħdimna ħafna minn meta rritornajna, u issa kollox huwa ffukat fuq l-irkupru (revovery).” Maresca żvela wkoll li Levi Colwill weġġa’ fit-taħriġ ta’ nhar it-Tnejn, u jista’ jitlef l-ewwel logħba tal-Premier League kontra Crystal Palace tal-ġimgħa d-dieħla.

Meta tkellem dwar il-plejers ġodda, Maresca wera fiduċja fl-istrateġija tat-trasferimenti tal-klabb s’issa. “Jien kuntent bil-players il-ġodda li ffirmajna. Xi wħud, bħal Jamie Gittens, diġà huma familjari mal-pajjiż, iżda għal oħrajn hija transizzjoni kbira. Se nagħtuhom il-ħin biex jadattaw mar-ritmu tal-kampjonat u l-kultura.”

Dwar il-possibbiltà ta’ aktar akkwisti qabel jingħalaq is-suq tat-trasferimenti, Maresca ma kkommettiex. “Kollox jista’ jiġri sakemm it-tieqa tibqa’ miftuħa,” qal. “Aħna dejjem qed insegwu, imma l-prijorità tiegħi hi li naħdem ma’ grupp ewlieni. M’għandix bżonn skwadra kbira – 25 plejer ta’ kwalità huma ideali.”

Wieħed mill-ismijiet li qed iqajmu l-aktar eċitament fost il-partitarji hu Estevão Willian, żagħżugħ ta’ talent mill-Brażil. “Huwa pjaċir tarah jilgħab u jista’ jilgħab kullimkien,” qal Maresca. “Imma ma’ plejers bħal dawn, hemm bżonn nikkontrollaw l-eċitament tagħhom. Għadu żgħir ħafna u ġej minn ambjent kalċistiku differenti ħafna.”

Il-VisitMalta Weekender joffri żewġ logħbiet ta’ livell għoli fi żmien 48 siegħa, Maresca enfasizza li l-attenzjoni se tkun fuq it-tqassim tal-minuti fost il-plejers. “B’differenza minn timijiet oħra, bdejna l-pre-season tard, allura rridu nużaw dawn il-logħbiet b’mod intelliġenti.”

Carlo Micallef, CEO tal-Awtorità Maltija għat-Turiżmu, u ċ-Chairperson Charles Mangion, ukoll kienu preżenti għal din il-konferenza.

Il-VisitMalta Weekender jirrappreżenta mhux biss opportunità għal Chelsea biex itejbu t-tattika u l-kundizzjoni fiżika tagħhom, imma wkoll ċelebrazzjoni ta’ sħubijiet u destinazzjonijiet internazzjonali fil-futbol. Bl-avveniment ospitat fi Stamford Bridge, jenfasizza lil Malta bħala destinazzjoni vibranti u ta’ klassi dinjija. Il-kollaborazzjoni bejn Chelsea u VisitMalta, qed tkompli toffri lill-partitarji taħlita unika ta’ sport, kultura u turiżmu.