Chelsea are firmly in the Premier League title race, believes Bobby Vincent, Blues writer for football.london, with Brentford heading to Stamford Bridge for a mouthwatering west London derby on Sunday evening.
Enzo Maresca's side are just four points behind league leaders Liverpool (who have played a game fewer), having beaten Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 on Sunday, thanks to a Cole Palmer brace. The England international has 11 goals and six assists this season.
Chelsea are second in the Premier League table. What have you made of what you’ve seen so far this season?
It has been such a strong start to the season for Chelsea. If you ask even the most optimistic Chelsea supporter, then they would tell you that it has exceeded expectations.
The fact that Enzo Maresca has come in and implemented a fairly complex style of play while still being able to play some really attractive, free-flowing, attacking football - and most importantly, picking up some really positive results - is a testament to the job he has done so far. It is early days but the signs thus far are very encouraging from a Chelsea point of view, no doubt about that.
Enzo Maresca has frequently said that his side are not in the title race. Do you think that’s the case?
I think what he is doing is smart: taking the pressure off a very young group of players. However, I am not buying it. When you're playing the attacking football the Blues are playing right now, you are always in with a shout for the title.
This season, especially, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City not looking like themselves in the early stages, I think they are in with a shot, but it will be very difficult as Liverpool's lead is quite substantial already.
How much have the players and fans enjoyed the Conference League journey so far?
It certainly has been different from what Chelsea fans are used to. With no disrespect intended, they have played the likes of Heidenheim, Noah and Servette - these are all teams a lot of supporters would never have heard of!
So for the fans fortunate enough to make the trips away from home, it has been a hell of an experience; going to places they will probably never go again.
For the players, it has helped massively because of how large the squad is, it has given the fringe stars some crucial opportunities. It is, of course, the only major trophy in club football that Chelsea have not won, too.
Which player should Brentford fans be keeping an eye on on Sunday?
Is it boring if I say Cole Palmer? That is the answer, but I will give you a non-Palmer answer. Jadon Sancho should be kept an eye on.
In his last two Premier League games, Sancho has scored and his performance level has been really strong. It has been since he moved to Chelsea but, recently, it has gone up another level. He is starting to look like the version of Sancho we saw during his first spell at Borussia Dortmund years ago.
Jadon starting our comeback with a beauty! ✊#CFC | #TOTCHE pic.twitter.com/VmRt0JsGfb
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 8, 2024
What should Brentford expect from Chelsea in terms of shape and style?
In the last two Premier League games, we have seen Moisés Caicedo start as a right-back but move into the middle of the pitch when Chelsea are in possession.
This then sees the Blues go into, essentially, a back-three with Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and Roméo Lavia in the middle. However, it looks as if Lavia might be injured for the weekend, so we could see similar but with Malo Gusto in the Caicedo role instead.
Brentford have won on their last three trips to Stamford Bridge. What’s your score prediction this time around?
Brentford are super impressive. Thomas Frank, for me, is one of the best coaches in the Premier League. So it will never be a straightforward game for Chelsea. I do, however, predict a much tougher Chelsea for Brentford than they have faced in previous seasons.
I expect Brentford to score because Chelsea's weaknesses are definitely in defensive areas. I am going for 3-2 to Chelsea.