Leicester boss Enzo Maresca makes Chelsea prediction ahead of FA Cup showdown

Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca believes that Chelsea will soon be back at the top of English football.

Maresca and his team are heading to Stamford Bridge this Sunday for an FA Cup quarter-final match against a Chelsea side currently undergoing a costly rebuild under new owner Todd Boehly. Mauricio Pochettino could relieve some pressure by guiding the Blues to the semi-finals and a second Wembley appearance this season, after losing the Carabao Cup final last month.

Having faced both Chelsea and former Tottenham boss Pochettino during his coaching days at Manchester City, Maresca is certain that a comeback for Chelsea is on the cards. «They are a fantastic team, with fantastic players, they are in a moment where they are changing things,» Maresca said.

«A new manager at the start of the season, when you want to change players and also style that requires time and sometimes you can be lucky or unlucky. Chelsea will be one of the best clubs in the country again because the manager is fantastic and so are the players.»

Leicester's journey to Stamford Bridge comes amidst their wavering promotion challenge in the Championship, where a once 14-point lead over third place has now shrunk to just five.

Mudryk in, Chukwuemeka for Fernandez — Chelsea team Mauricio Pochettino should pick vs Leicester

Mauricio Pochettino may consider five Chelsea changes vs Leicester as Mykhailo Mudryk call looms

However, Maresca doesn't believe that Sunday's result will have any significant impact on the outcome of their league campaign. «I am proud, not only because of the FA Cup, but for all the season,» he said.

«I think our path, our journey in this moment until has been perfect, I always said we are in the right direction. It is not normal