Kolkata: “No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title.” That was Enzo Maresca after Chelsea beat Brentford 2-1 and moved to second within the Premier League, two factors behind Liverpool who’ve a recreation in hand. Win at Everton on Sunday and Chelsea could possibly be main the standings if solely until Liverpool end in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca. (Reuters)
So, regardless of how a lot the top coach tries to deflect discuss of being contenders, Chelsea can not keep away from it being a part of Christmas dialog. That they’re the primary crew to win 5 successive league matches, and, after their 5-1 win in opposition to Shamrock Rovers on Thursday, have comfortably certified for the Convention League spherical of 16 do nothing to cut back discuss of a primary title since 2016-17.
After the win in opposition to Brentford, Maresca was making the purpose about Chelsea’s incapacity to shut out the sport as proof of why he thinks they don’t seem to be able to be contenders but. However in a season the place no crew bar Liverpool have gotten on a run, Chelsea are doing their bit to make the title race fascinating.
They lead the targets chart with 37, six greater than leaders Liverpool. And have conceded 19, which can be six greater than Liverpool. However provided that they conceded 63 targets final time period, and 47 the season earlier than, it’s an enchancment. At 23 years and 220 days, Chelsea’s 11 in opposition to Newcastle was the youngest within the league. Maresca’s fledglings? And although central defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are injured, Chelsea have fewer harm worries than final season.
Add to that how the membership cleared the Enzo Fernandez-Fofana mess after the Argentine was filmed making enjoyable of France’s black gamers and it’s clear that Chelsea have come a good distance from the chaos initially of the season.
That was once they had 48 gamers with Raheem Sterling unsure if he had a future on the membership he had joined two years in the past for £50m. He has since been loaned to Arsenal. In a bid to stability books, academy merchandise Connor Gallagher, Omari Hutchinson and Ian Maatsen have been offered and Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja loaned.
It felt like a continuation of the chaos from the summer season of 2022 when Chelsea, sixth final time period and twelfth in 22-23, spent £273m on gamers from whom solely Marc Cucurella and Fofana are regulars.
Lower to December and Cucurella’s slip in opposition to Spurs and his strike in opposition to Brentford mirror the autumn and rise of the five-time champions. Maresca accepted forward of the tie to Everton that Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka would possibly go away subsequent month for need of recreation time however in 4 months he has constructed a squad that understands his field midfield (a double pivot with two No.10s) within the 3-2-4-1 formation. The 44-year-old Italian, who has been Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Metropolis, has additionally used the Convention League to create a stable back-up by giving gamers comparable to Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Marc Guiu minutes.
Introduced for £32m in 2023, Nicolas Jackson has been essential to Chelsea’s turnaround. Maresca is utilizing the Senegal striker nearer to purpose than he was final time period. His tally of 9 league targets has taken Jackson to 23 from 50 appearances. Solely Erling Haaland (40) and Ollie Watkins (25) have extra non-penalty targets of their first 50 matches, as per Opta.
Jackson shifting up has made Cole Palmer the artistic pressure and the England participant has been in good kind. Moisés Caicedo anchors the field midfield the place Palmer is both the precise or left facet No.10 with Cucurella usually shifting infield in help when Romeo Lavia, uncertain for Sunday, or Fernandes strikes up. Maresca’s choice for pacy wingers like Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke who can dribble has led to Chelsea with the ability to stretch the play.
As anticipated from a crew in transition and beneath a brand new coach, there have been nervous moments in opposition to Brentford and Spurs. Chelsea’s document at Everton is poor with one win and 5 defeats of their final seven matches however that would change on Sunday.