'Fantastic motivation' - Maresca on Club World Cup

Enzo Maresca and Cole Palmer at Chelsea — [Getty Images]

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says the Club World Cup is a "fantastic motivation" as his side look to win the newly-expanded competition.

The competition has been expanded to 32 teams, including 12 from Europe, and will take place across the United States between June and July.

The event has done its first round of media interviews and Maresca spoke of his "fantastic motivation" to pursue the title, adding: "That's what you need to see it as, as a source of motivation. As I've told you before, when you're at Chelsea, your goal is to win as much as you can. And when we're there, that will be one of our goals: to try to win it."

Sources close to the ownership have described how the competition is viewed seriously at Stamford Bridge, both because of the revenue it can generate, through a $1bn prize pot for all clubs, but also with an opportunity to market the club to a global audience.

Chelsea were also unable to use Cole Palmer during last summer's pre-season tour due to his involvement at the European Championships with England.

However, he is expected to be available to play at the Club World Cup.

"Cole Palmer is up there with the very best, top players who can produce something at any moment, create something out of nothing," Maresca added.

"He wasn't with me on the USA tour last summer, so it will also be a chance for him to experience the environment there and to introduce himself to [North] America."

Discussions remain ongoing with the FA to decide whether another transfer window will be implemented to allow Chelsea and Manchester City, the Club World Cup's English participants, to sign players early before the competition.

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