Chelsea are going great guns at the moment. They’re in superb form, they’re top scorers in the Premier League, and they’ve got a squad so deep that they can play a different team in each competition they’re in.
That’s great news for everyone except one group – people who write transfer rumours.
They are struggling to link the Blues to anyone, given we’ve got so many good players already and few weaknesses.
More Stories about Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca after Chelsea's win against Aston Villa (Photo by: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
Enzo Maresca applauds the home fans. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The focus seems to be on our defence, where there is still a sense we can add an elite option. But in his press conference last night, Enzo Maresca shot down the idea that his team might add a player in January:
“No, we are not thinking at all about the January transfer window. We still have many games before that; we have, I think, six Premier League games plus two Conference League games. We have many, many games before January and our focus is about how many games we have before that,” the manager deflectly, deftly.
Enzo Maresca during Southampton press conference (Photo by: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Enzo Maresca during Southampton press conference (Photo by: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Maresca points to defensive record that’s better than it looks
In fact, the coach took the chance to defend (no pun intended) his team’s record at the back:
“There are just just two teams [in the Premier League] that have conceded less than us. We are attacking and defending well. That means defensively we are doing quite well. You are not going to win games, or any titles, just scoring goals – you need to defend.”
We still think there’s a good chance a defender is signed in the summer – another right back is probably needed and of course an elite central defender might take us up a level.
But Maresca is right – the reason the defence is being picked on is because there aren’t really many other aspects of the team you can criticise.