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.

The signing of a central defender depends on exits and the club have to fund the purchase of a striker and a right-footed winger too. There are two questions to answer on the issue: why Chelsea are pursuing another player in this position at all and what are the ramifications for those centre-backs at the club?

Liverpool is joined by Chelsea in the chase for Dean Huijsen. The Blues are being given the edge in some quarters, but the defender has three reasons to turn them down.

Watch highlights as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 4-0 at Kingsmeadow to close in on a sixth successive Women's Super League title.

Chelsea took another step towards their sixth straight Women's Super League title with a resounding 4-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday that put them six points clear at the top of the table with three games left to play.

Chelsea Women cruised to a 4-0 home win over Crystal Palace as the Blues moved six points clear at the top of the WSL. Scorers: Reiten 22', Macário 24', 50', Fishel 64'Chelsea put early pressure on