Bullish Enzo Maresca fires back with three-word question and it speaks volumes for Chelsea vs PSG

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"Who said that?" a baffled Enzo Maresca replied to a journalist on Friday. The reporter had asked the Chelsea head coach if his players were willing to suffer when they did not have the ball for large periods against Paris Saint-Germain.

The idea, though, that his Blues side would not be able to dominate the match in possession did not sit well with Maresca. Since the Italian was appointed as head coach 12 months ago, he has tried to mould his side into a composed, mature and assertive team while on the ball.

"We'll see in two days. For sure they are a top team, the best team in the world," Maresca said in his pre-FIFA Club World Cup final press conference. "Every game is different. We are going to try our best for a good game.

"Paris Saint-Germain, their manager, Luis Enrique, is a reference not only for me but for all of the people who love football. At the same time, our style; I think we have shown this season how we want to do things on and off the ball. They are for sure a reference for most of the managers and most of the players in the world."

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Preparing for a team like PSG - the recently-crowned European champions - is incredibly difficult. There are too many threats all over the pitch to nullify. Either way, Maresca - who was in bullish mood at the MetLife Stadium around 48 hours before the final - has an unwavering confidence in his players' ability.

"I just said, I agree with most of the people that they said, that they are the best in Europe, the best in the world," Maresca added on PSG. "And the reason why is because they are showing this, they showed France, they showed the Champions League, they are showing this competition, we have maximum respect for them.

"I said in my last press conference that I really like, I really enjoy watching them, but at the same time, we are here to try to do our best, and to be there, to be different."

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