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Maresca sends brutal Chelsea message as Blues given biggest title race boost yet

"Keep the ball, Chels," one very passionate supporter in the East Stand of Stamford Bridge shouted around 78 minutes into Chelsea's dramatic victory against Brentford.

It was a nail-biting affair as the two west London sides battled it out for three points in SW6. At the point of the plea from the Chelsea fan, the visitors were well on top - threatening continuously to level the match at 1-1.

Robert Sanchez produced a stunning save to deny Christian Norgaard moments before. Brentford then had an even better opportunity through Fabio Carvalho in what was one of the former Liverpool midfielder's first touches. Carvalho smashed the crossbar from close range in what was a huge let-off for the Blues, who were ahead thanks to a first-half header from Marc Cucurella.

"Keep the ball", a simple instruction but one the Chelsea players would have been very wise to listen to. They needed to take the sting out of the game. The end-to-end nature was not really suiting them and it was playing into the Bees' hands to some extent.

The Blues managed to keep the ball; a staple of Enzo Maresca's football ideology. Patience in possession as they look to break a defence down. One that has worked extremely well up until now for the high-flying, potentially title-chasing-although-Maresca-refuses-to-admit-it Chelsea.

"No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title," Maresca said after the full-time whistle. "One of the reasons why is because I think [other] teams know how to compete for titles."

Maresca then referenced the goal Chelsea conceded on Sunday evening, which came from the Blues having an attacking throw-in and gifting possession to Brentford. That, and more talking points from Sunday's game, below...

Sloppy Chelsea

Bryan Mbeumo scored for the Bees just before the fourth official put his board up to indicate there would be seven minutes added on. Cucurella took a throw-in, deep inside Brentford's half, and found Moises Caicedo, who was then dispossessed by Kevin Schade before the Bees man put Mbeumo through on goal.

"They [other title challengers] are not going to concede the goal we conceded," the Chelsea head coach said. "We conceded the goal on 90 minutes, throw-in for us, we conceded a goal.

"A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they are not going to concede. This is one of the reasons why I continue to say we are not ready for titles, even if you do not believe me or you think that I say that for... I've told you many times, I would love the pressure to compete for titles but we are not ready for many reasons; one of the reasons why is because we cannot concede the goal we conceded, open the game and give them the chance to take a point here."

While everything is positive right now - and rightly so - when it comes to Chelsea, that moment is a reminded that they cannot afford to drop their focus at any point in this division.

Palmer and Sancho moment at full-time

Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho are two very cool footballers. One of them has the nickname 'Cold' while the other is one of the best one-versus-one dribblers in the Premier League.

Their coolness was personified at full-time. Seemingly every player and even some of the coaching staff were involved in a heated brawl near the halfway line after the final whistle had been blown. Cucurella even got himself red carded for shoving Schade.

While all this was happening, though, Palmer and Sancho were just sat down laughing with each other and reflecting on the game they had both just played. A photographer caught the pair in dialogue at full-time in an image that has gone viral within the Chelsea social media scene.

Biggest boost yet for Chelsea

As far as weekends go, that one was pretty perfect for Chelsea. While Maresca continues to reject the idea of his young and inexperienced team being involved in the Premier League title race, Chelsea keep moving forward.

Liverpool and Arsenal were both held to draws in their matches on Saturday afternoon, while Manchester City's horrid run of form continued on Sunday evening as they were beaten at home by Manchester United. The Blues are now just two points off Liverpool, who still lead the way at the summit of the division.

The Reds do, though, still have a game in-hand on Chelsea. However, it is a tricky one away at Everton. Speaking of Everton, if Chelsea manage to get three points at Goodison Park at the weekend, they will move to the top of the Premier League.

That would be the first time the Blues have been at the top of the division in the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era. Albeit it might only be temporary with Liverpool playing away at Tottenham later on in the day, but what a moment it would be nonetheless for everyone involved at Chelsea.

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