Chelsea has entered the last three seasons under a cloud of uncertainty following the Clearlake Capital acquisition in May 2022, but the atmosphere feels different this time. The club’s long-term project in West London now has a new face at the helm: Enzo Maresca.
The Italian arrives as a relative unknown, having only managed Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, Parma for a few months, and Leicester City, whom he led to the Championship title. As a disciple of Pep Guardiola, Maresca carries the weight of expectation, similar to peers like Mikel Arteta and Xavi, but with a less proven track record at the top level.
After a brilliant start to the season dispelled initial doubts, Chelsea found themselves in second place by December, just two points behind league leaders Liverpool. However, a significant drop in form followed, with the team securing only nine points from their next nine games. The Blues ultimately salvaged their campaign with a strong finish, winning eight of their last nine matches in all competitions to finish fourth and secure a place in the Conference League.
That impressive first season was elevated further by their triumph in the FIFA Club World Cup. Held in the United States this summer, the newly formatted tournament proved to be a resounding success for Chelsea. The team was in high spirits, carrying momentum from their strong end to the previous season, and their victory has only boosted morale.
New signings also made an immediate impact during the tournament. João Pedro was outstanding, scoring three goals, while Liam Delap contributed a goal and an assist. The squad was also joined by Estevão Willian, who played against Chelsea for Palmeiras in the competition. Already nicknamed ‘Messinho,’ he is regarded as Brazil’s most significant talent since Neymar.
The belief within the group is palpable, perhaps the strongest it has been since their Champions League victory in 2021. After defeating PSG 3-1 in the Club World Cup final, Levi Colwill remarked, “At the start of this tournament, our plan was to win it, and people looked at me like I was crazy. So I’m going to say the same thing now going into the Premier League and the Champions League.”
Unfortunately for Colwill and the club, the England international has since suffered an ACL injury and will miss most of the season. He was the only consistent starter in central defense last term. While Wesley Fofana is a top-class defender, his availability remains a major concern. Chelsea has signed the highly-rated Jorrel Hato, and Josh Acheampong can also play centrally, but Hato’s age and lack of Premier League experience are potential issues. Despite Maresca’s desire for more reinforcements, the club may not re-enter the transfer market.
While the Club World Cup win has sparked talk of a title challenge, the club’s internal aims are more measured: consistently qualify for the Champions League and mount strong cup runs. Besides defense, the goalkeeper position and player fitness are potential weaknesses. Reece James is one of the world’s best right-backs when fit, but his injury record is a constant worry. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez had a difficult season but finished strong and looked confident in America. The club previously considered Mike Maignan but has since dropped that option, with Maresca seemingly happy to trust the Spaniard.
A significant challenge will be player burnout after 11 months of non-stop football. With only a three-week break, Chelsea faces an immediate disadvantage. They have managed to schedule only two pre-season games before their opener against Crystal Palace. The upside is that the team may not have lost any momentum from last season. However, while they might start well, the congested calendar could take its toll mid-season.
Chelsea is currently playing fluid, confident football at a high level. Yet, with a young squad, they still need to demonstrate a level of consistency they have previously lacked to mount a serious title challenge. While the Premier League and Champions League titles may still be out of reach this season, the team is poised to build on its recent success and re-establish itself as one of Europe’s top sides.
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