Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca focused on UCL opener against 'fantastic' Bayern Munich

The two European giants share a rich history in the competition, boasting eight Champions League titles between them.

Chelsea, of course, famously lifted their first trophy in 2012 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Bayern in the final.

Despite the weight of history and expectation, Maresca remains undaunted ahead of the clash at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

His focus is on implementing his approach and tactics, rather than being distracted by the stature of the encounter. The Italian coach believes that meticulous preparation and team cohesion will be key in navigating such a testing fixture.

"First of all, you know since last season, I always like to go game by game," said Maresca, via the club's official website.

"You cannot think about the final or semi-final if you can't win games in the group stage.

"Tomorrow we have the first one against a fantastic team, one of the three or four favourites in this competition, but we are going to try to do our job in the best way."

Chelsea enter the match with a mix of determination and pragmatism, aware that Bayern's home advantage and European pedigree make them a stern opponent.

Maresca's measured outlook underlines his commitment to steady progress and avoiding overhype, even as the Champions League stage sets the scene for a potentially thrilling contest. 

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