Former Blue Joe Cole believes Chelsea can mount a challenge for the Premier League title under one circumstance.
The Blues have had a better start to the season than many would have expected and currently find themselves fourth in the league heading into the busy festive period.
Enzo Maresca admitted the team are already ahead of his expectations and Chelsea could find themselves in second place at the end of the weekend.
Cole makes bold Chelsea prediction
The league is so tight this year and other than Liverpool a number of teams in the chasing pack are lacking consistency with just four points separating the Blues and Newcastle in tenth.
Chelsea have lost just two of their 12 games this season to City and Liverpool, whilst they have won four out of four in the Conference League.
Chelsea players celebrate a goal in a huddle.
Chelsea could finish the weekend in second.
Maresca has continued to play down talk of the Blues being in a title race, with the aim this season to get back into the Champions League.
However, Cole believes the Blues can mount a title charge under one circumstance and admitted it’s “remarkable” they could even find themselves in that position.
“I think if they (Chelsea) can be at the turn of the year after the Christmas period, if they’re within six points I think they can mount a title challenge,” Cole told The Daily Mail.
“Because knowing the owners, I think they’ll go in and have a go again (in the January transfer window).
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A Chelsea flag in the evening at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca plays it cool in Premier League press conference.
Unai Emery and Nicolas Jackson on the touchline for Villareal. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
“But that is really remarkable that I’m saying that because there were times last year when you were searching for answers and we didn’t know where they’d end up.”
If the Blues can stay in within touching distance heading into the new year then never say never in football, but it feels like it’s a year too early for this team to be competing, although they are absolutely heading in the right direction.