Maresca acknowledged that playing at Old Trafford is always difficult, regardless of the team's form. He stated, "It's always tough to play United at their stadium, whether it's this season, last season, or any other year. They have a strong home record, and we need to be prepared for a tough game."

Maresca also cautioned against underestimating United, despite their recent struggles. He noted that they have a strong desire to win, especially at home in front of their fans, and that this match is crucial for them.

Chelsea are coming off a Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich, but Maresca took away some positives from the performance. He said, "The game against Bayern was a tough one, but we tried our best. We were good for parts of the game, and there are things we can improve on. I have a good feeling about our performance, and we'll continue to work on it."

Maresca also discussed his team's new signings, including Alejandro Garnacho, who is expected to start against United. Garnacho has been adapting well to the team's style and has shown promise in his appearances so far. Maresca said, "Garnacho has been very good when he's come on in the last two games, and I think he's ready to start."

On Estevao Willian, a 18-year-old Brazilian player, Maresca urged patience, acknowledging that he's still developing and needs time to adjust to the team. He stated, "Estevao has great talent, but he's still young, and we need to give him time to develop."

Maresca also confirmed that Cole Palmer is fit to start after returning from injury and had a training session with the team. He added that they have a few players who are still recovering and will assess their fitness before the match.

Maresca addressed the controversy surrounding Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, who have been frozen out of the team. He explained that the club is giving them the opportunity to work on their fitness and skills, but they're not involved in the squad at the moment. Maresca stated, "I've been in similar situations as a player, and I understand it's not easy. We're giving them the tools to train and work on themselves, but they're not part of the team at the moment."