Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea tenure begins with a home game against defending champions Manchester City on the opening Sunday of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
The 44-year-old, who was named Mauricio Pochettino’s successor in June, will next face Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace in his first month in charge.
Chelsea will face west London rivals Fulham at home on Boxing Day and the campaign at Nottingham Forest.
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The baptisms of fire are no more daunting than the one Maresca faces in his competitive debut as Chelsea head coach, with champions Manchester City set to travel to Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Facing manager Pep Guardiola will offer a formidable first look at Maresca’s pre-season paints that implement his style of play, and Chelsea enthusiasts will be hoping to see the kind of resistance put in combination by Mauricio Pochettino’s side in a thrilling 4-4 draw. corresponding adjustment from last season.
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Beyond that initial test, Maresca’s first schedule looks favorable, with the next six games facing teams that finished ninth or worse in 2023-24. But City’s result may condition the rest of the season and the build-up boost is likely to be key. , with Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal in quick succession in October and November.
For scheduling purposes, Chelsea will travel via London to face bitter rivals Tottenham on Dec. 7, with the second leg at Stamford Bridge scheduled for April 2.
The final part of what Chelsea hopes will be a race to Champions League qualification may be tough, with a final day against Nottingham Forest preceded by a series of games against Liverpool, Newcastle and United.
The transfer window officially opened on Friday, June 14, and the infamous deadline for reporting of the 2023-24 Sustainability and Benefits Rules (PSR) falls at the end of the month, on June 30. The window closes on Friday, August 14 at 11 p. m. m. BST (6 p. m. ET).
The winter move-in window will open on Wednesday, January 1 and Monday, February 3.
The new Premier League season kicks off on the weekend of August 16-18, a week after the Community Shield. That match will be the Manchester derby and a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final.
The Premier League season ends on Sunday, May 25, when all 10 matches will be played at that time.
Premier League clubs will participate in the FA Cup in the third round, which starts on Saturday, January 11. The Carabao Cup will begin in mid-August and the Premier League teams that do not play in Europe will enter the second round and the remaining seven clubs receiving a goodbye in the 3rd circular.
Meanwhile, the newly expanded Champions League will begin on September 17, the Europa League will begin on September 25, and the Conference League will begin on October 3.
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Chelsea will play in the Conference League for the first time next season. Sixth place last season guaranteed them a European place, but Manchester United’s eventual FA Cup victory secured a Europa League place for Erik ten Hag’s side at Chelsea’s expense.
The Conference League introduces a new format this season ahead of the fourth edition of the tournament.
The organization level has evolved into a single championship level of 36 teams, with organizations playing against six other organizations (3 home and 3 away). The top 8 advance to the knockout levels, while organizations in positions 9 through 24 compete in the game. -offs to the remaining 8 organizations of the last 16.
The final took place at the Wroclaw stadium in Poland.