Chelsea looking to stay in the top-four
Enzo Maresca has called on Chelsea to harbour the momentum built by its win over Tottenham Hotspur when it faces Brentford in another London derby on Monday (AEST).
A second-half header from Enzo Fernandez guided Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Spurs last time out, in a game it dominated for long periods.
The victory lifted Chelsea back into the top four of the Premier League table after four of its rivals for UEFA Champions League qualification – Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa – recorded victories of their own earlier in midweek.
"Every time you win, preparation for the next game is better," Maresca said as he previewed Chelsea's trip to Gtech Community Stadium.
"Hopefully, from the Tottenham game we can build momentum, knowing that every game will be difficult until the end."
Maresca knows the tight turnaround between Chelsea's two games this week presents a challenge, saying: "We need to recover energy and go again. For Sunday [Monday AEST], it will be about how we manage the tiredness. Brentford for sure will be a very tough game.
"You saw on Wednesday night [Thursday AEDT] they lost away at Newcastle, but it was a tough game. From now on, every game is going to be tough.
"The target is to try to finish where we have been all season. In the first five or six months, because we were second, the expectations changed a little bit. But all season, we have been in the top four or five, and we will try our best to finish there."
Brentford lost 2-1 at Newcastle last time out, with Sandro Tonali's spectacular goal handing the Magpies victory after Bryan Mbeumo cancelled out Alexander Isak's opener.
But the Bees remain firmly in contention for a top-half finish, with potentially an outside shot at Europe. They are 11th with 41 points, three adrift of Bournemouth in 10th.
Forward Kevin Schade said: "We are all enjoying it. It has been a very good season for each of us. We fight for each other and the goals are coming naturally.
"I'm quick and Brentford's system is to play quickly at the top, with deep runners and crosses from the outside. That's my game, the style fits my game."
