Twenty-five points. Thirteen games in. Joint-third in the Premier League table. Chelsea supporters could not really have asked for much better.
Enzo Maresca, while implementing a new play style onto a young group of players, has managed to get the results to go along with the transition as well. Premier League title, anyone? Maresca is not having it.
"We are not ready to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and [Manchester] City for many reasons," the Chelsea head coach said at full-time of the Blues' 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. "Because we win today, I am not going to change my idea.
"We are not ready for that. The good thing is we are improving. Soon, hopefully we can be there."
The reality is, however, Chelsea are competing with at least two of the three many expected the title race to be between this season. Level on points with Arsenal, two above Manchester City and nine adrift of Liverpool, who are at the summit of the top-flight table.
That in itself is a talking point after yet another victory for the Blues in the league. With that being said, Bobby Vincent discusses some more talking points from Sunday's match below...
Jackson co pies Ronaldo celebration
Nicolas Jackson bagged his eighth goal of the Premier League season on Sunday with a fine finish in front of the Shed End at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old striker has been in electric form under Maresca with his development since signing really quite staggering.
Playing against his former manager Unai Emery, Jackson showed off his improvement with a clever finish in off the post after being found by Marc Cucurella. After seeing the ball hit the back of the net, Jackson ran off and copied an iconic celebration.
The one that Ronaldo (R9) used to do when he was tearing up defences back in the day. An iconic point that had clearly been pre-planned by Jackson.
Now, Jackson still has some way to getting to the same level El Fenomeno reached during his incredible career, but the improvement and progress from the Chelsea striker is really encouraging.
Palmer comes good at right time
Going into the game, Cole Palmer was without a direct goal contribution in three matches in the Premier League. However, Palmer was not to be denied at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against a strong Aston Villa team.
Setting up Enzo Fernandez for his goal, Chelsea's second of the game, Palmer then got on the scoresheet himself late on. It was a sublime individual goal from the England international with a strike that left Robin Olsen with absolutely zero chance.
"Cole Palmer, Joao Felix is the reason why people pay for tickets; to watch that type of player," Maresca explained at full-time. "Cole Palmer can see things, like Joao, that the rest cannot see. It doesn't mean the rest are not good but they are different from the rest."
With such a hectic and tough period now under way for the Blues, the return of form to Palmer could not have come at a better time.
Fofana reality becomes clear
Maresca confirmed after the match that Wesley Fofana had injured his hamstring and is now set for a period on the sidelines. Fofana pulled up on 60 minutes and was taken off for Benoit Badiashile.
"Unfortunately it is bad news," Maresca said when asked about Fofana's injury. "A hamstring problem. These kind of things usually require three, four, five weeks. In this moment, we lose him for 10 or 12 games.
"In the way he was playing, it's a big loss for us but we have more players and we can find a solution."
He continued: "It's a big loss, it's a big loss. He is doing fantastic but it is normal when you play this amount of games. Fortunately it was his first injury of the season but we will find a solution."
Fofana is now set to miss the entirety of December, where Chelsea face another eight matches across all competitions. Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo are the other options to partner Levi Colwill.
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