Enzo Maresca stated that Chelsea is not under any financial pressure to win the Club World Cup, despite the £97 million ($130 million) prize available for the winner.

The Blues need to avoid defeat against Esperance de Tunis in Philadelphia on Tuesday to secure second place in Group D and advance to the round of 16.

Chelsea will earn around £40 million simply for participating in the 32-team tournament, with prize money increasing substantially in the knockout stages.

The club complied fully with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules for the 2023-24 season, though their accounts revealed a controversial sale of the Copthorne and Millennium hotels at Stamford Bridge for £76.5 million to a sister company, which was approved by the Premier League.

They also sold their women's team to parent company BlueCo for a record £200 million in women's football. UEFA is still reviewing both transactions under its Financial Fair Play rules.

Since the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital takeover in May 2022, Chelsea has committed over £1.2 billion to new players. Maresca emphasized that there have been no discussions about the financial benefits of succeeding in the Club World Cup.

'The owners simply want the best for us and the players, focusing on each game,' said Maresca. 'They don't discuss the final prize or monetary rewards, and they never pressure me or the players by saying, 'We must win this for the money.'

'They aim to win for everyone—for the owners, the club, the fans, the players, and me. It's not just about the money.'

Reece James missed Chelsea's training session on Monday due to illness amid soaring temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Philadelphia.