Chelsea

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur | Match | Official Site  Chelsea

The international break followed by a weekend dedicated to FA Cup action means it will have been over two-and-a-half weeks since Maresca’s Blues took to the field. Once again, it is north London opponents standing between us and three vital Premier League points.

Maresca is under no illusions as to how significant a game it is. That is not simply because of the history of the fixture but when it arrives in the season, and what ramifications it could have for the closing weeks of the campaign.

‘It’s a huge game, it’s big,’ Maresca stated.

‘We know how important it is for the fans and the club, but it’s also important for us to finish where we are now [in the Champions League qualification places]. It would be a huge achievement in this moment for us.

‘From a win you can build momentum until the end of the season, but from now on every game is important and they all mean three points. So we have to win as many as we can and then we will see where we can finish.

‘If you are able to finish top four, top five, first of all it is fantastic for the fans, and for the club, because we can bring this club where it has always been,’ added our head coach.

‘But for the players it's also important because they can realise the work that they have done and have something for the future.’

Focusing on tomorrow’s game, Maresca acknowledged Tottenham have also suffered with injuries this season, which he says might explain their position in the table. They are expected to have a nearly fully-fit squad for the trip across the capital, and Maresca is anticipating another tough encounter in SW6.

‘Spurs have many important and good players,' he continued. 'First of all it’s a derby, so it will be tough, and it’s a Premier League game and you can struggle in any Premier League game because they are all difficult.

‘Since day one, our players are giving everything. The attitude and behaviour has always been top, every game and every day. Now we have nine games to go, and hopefully we can finish where we are [in the Champions League places].’

The visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Stamford Bridge on Thursday is top of the Blues' agenda – and it will be our first game since March 16 due to the international break and the scheduling of the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Those players not representing their countries were given some time off by head coach Enzo Maresca, but work was also undertaken at Cobham before the entire squad reconvened.

'Overall, it was a good international break,' Maresca explained. 'We had players with their international teams, we had players here who could rest, and we could also focus on some specific work. So overall, it was a good one.’

Our clash with Spurs begins the Premier League run-in. We have nine league games remaining and are currently fourth in the top-flight table. And Maresca insists his squad will do everything in their power to secure a place in the Champions League.

He said: 'We are there [in the top four] – and we have been there all season – so it’s our duty to try to finish there.

'And as I’ve said, this club belongs in the Champions League. So, we have to do everything in our hands possible to bring the club there.’

Both of the players who scored in last season’s corresponding fixture against Tottenham at the Bridge – Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson – were involved in training on Tuesday, as was young defender Josh Acheampong, who made his senior debut as a substitute in that 2-0 home win for the Blues.

That result and our 4-2 victory in north London in December have helped the Blues record four successive wins over Tottenham. Yet Maresca is aware of the threat posed by Ange Postecoglou's side and will not be relying on history to help us to three points.

He said: ‘I think the next game will be a different one compared to the previous game, because every game is different.

'In the first game, we didn’t start in the perfect way as we conceded two goals, but the team was always there in the game and in the end we won.

'I think this one will be different, it’s a derby so will be difficult, but we have nine games to go and we need to win as many as we can.’

More than two weeks have passed since Enzo Maresca's side was last in action – the international break and FA Cup schedule the reasons why – but our Premier League campaign resumes this Thursday as Spurs make the trip across the capital.

The game is always a highlight in the calendars of supporters – and our first meeting with Ange Postecoglou's side this season saw the Blues battle back from two goals behind to record a memorable 4-2 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Those players not away representing their countries have continued to work under the watchful eye of Maresca and his staff during the international break, but training numbers at Cobham were back to full strength as a session was undertaken in the Surrey sunshine.

Among those involved in training today were Enzo Fernandez, who scored and assisted against Brazil for Argentina last week, and Blues skipper Reece James, who netted a superb free-kick for England during their 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Latvia.