Enzo Maresca insists his first season at Chelsea has not been a failure after criticism of the Italian's conservative tactics in the race to qualify for the Champions League."How many times in the last two years have Chelsea been in the Champions League places?

However, Maresca believes progress has been made and accused external figures of failing to recognise it. "Compared with the last two years, it's quite clear there is an improvement," he added. "If you want to see it, you see it. If you don't want to see it, you don't see it. Depends which way [you look]. I see it.

Enzo Maresca has insisted Chelsea will have improved as a team this season even if they miss out on Champions League qualification.