Chelsea star Lavia reveals Maresca’s key message to young squad and insists team are ‘winners’ despite Man City loss

ROMEO LAVIA insisted this Chelsea team is made up of ‘winners’ despite their opening-day defeat by Manchester City.

The Belgian was one of the Blues’ star performers in Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge, with Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic netting for the Premier League champions

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Lavia was pleased with his display – which followed an excellent pre-season – and pleaded for ‘patience’ from Chelsea fans.

The 20-year-old, who signed for £50million from Southampton a year ago, said: “I’m very happy to be back with the guys and have my first start in the Premier League for this amazing club.

“It’s nice to hear that they (the fans) liked my performance, it’s mixed feelings because we didn’t get the win so I won’t get carried away too much – I’m not as pleased as maybe if we won.

“The whole team is on the same page, from day one we knew that it’s a process and we can be happy that we managed to do something very good things against the best team in the world at the moment.”

Lavia is one of many young players brought in since Todd Boehly bought Chelsea – the average age of team against City was just 23.

The midfielder, who lasted 67 minute before being replaced by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, insisted the Blues can win something with kids.

Lavia added: “We are young but very motivated players and winners.

“You can talk about patience but we are competitors and we want to win. We want to show everyone that we can turn it around and get the results.”

He also revealed the message new Blues boss Maresca is trying to drive home.

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Lavia said: “His main message was that we want to win.

“Obviously he knows that it’s going to take time, he told us that, but at the same time we need to get the results because we’re good enough.

“It’s up to us now to do the job.”

Chelsea added to their ranks last week with the signing of Pedro Neto from Wolves for £60m.

Neto made his Blues debut against City , and has already impressed his team-mates in training.

Lavia said: “He’s integrated very well and we’re happy to have him so it’s just about showing what he can do even though he’s already showed it in training. We’re pleased to have him.”

Chelsea play Neto’s former club Wolves in their next league fixture.

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Harry Redknapp's 2024/25 season predictions

TOP FOUR
ARSENAL, MANCHESTER CITY, LIVERPOOL and TOTTENHAM  — and  I’ve got a really strong feeling for Arsenal this season. A few of Man City’s star players are getting a bit older. There’s been nothing between the two teams over the past two years.

RELEGATION
EVERTON (18th), SOUTHAMPTON (19th), LEICESTER (20th) — I like Sean Dyche and Everton are a great club with brilliant, knowledgeable fans. They’re just badly run. They need to go down to rebuild to come back again. But the key is new owners.

TOP SCORER
ERLING HAALAND — I can’t see anyone taking his crown off him. He’s a goal machine, isn’t he? If I can get him at evens, I might lump on!

MOST ASSISTS
MARTIN ODEGAARD — He’ll be the catalyst for Arsenal’s surge to the title. I can see it now. He’s a superb player and he makes it look so easy.

CARABAO CUP
TOTTENHAM — Ange Postecoglou will break Spurs’ trophy curse. Most big teams will mess about with this trophy, but Tottenham will go full steam.

FA CUP
LIVERPOOL — I fancy Arne Slot to stamp his mark on English football quickly and there’s few better ways to do it than lifting this famous old trophy.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
REAL MADRID — Carlo Ancelotti is bullish about their chances. He has said that with Kylian Mbappe, it’s the best team they’ve had for a long time.

EUROPA LEAGUE
MANCHESTER UNITED — Clubs seem to have stopped sneering at this competition. And Spurs and United should be going both barrels for it.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE
CHELSEA — The Luxembourg champions could be dangerous! Joking aside, the Blues must win it.