Enzo Maresca could not have been any clearer over his thoughts on the Premier League title race. Chelsea are not in one.
So he says, anyway. "No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title," Maresca said on Sunday after Chelsea picked up a hard-fought three points at home to Brentford. "One of the reasons why is because I think [other] teams know how to compete for titles."
He is right in a way. Liverpool and Arsenal both went almost until the end and to the very last game, respectively, last season but both lost out to Manchester City. Meanwhile, City themselves have the most experience out of anyone when it comes to title races - and actually lifting the trophy in May - but they are in a horrible run of form at the moment.
Maresca continues to insist that his team are "not ready"; which makes sense in a way given the inexperience of the squad. According to Transfermarkt, the 13 youngest - on average - starting line-ups in the Premier League this season have all been Chelsea's.
However, the Blues keep defying expectations. They just keep winning. In fact, Chelsea have won their last seven matches in all competitions - with five of them being in the Premier League. The Blues are top of the form table (based on the last six games in the Premier League) with 16 points from a possible 18, with Arsenal next on 12 and Liverpool in third on 11.
With the way the fixtures have been scheduled in the Premier League, Chelsea are playing before leaders Liverpool in the next two game weeks. The Blues travel to Merseyside to take on Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon, with the Reds going to Tottenham directly after.
If Chelsea can pick up maximum points on their final-ever league visit to Goodison, then they will move to the summit of the Premier League, temporarily at the very least. Similar could happen a few days later with Chelsea playing Fulham at 3pm on Boxing Day and Liverpool hosting Leicester City a few hours later.
While it might not seem like too much of an advantage because Liverpool can move back to the top afterwards, if everything goes to plan for Chelsea, it at least piles the pressure on Arne Slot's men to produce. The Reds, though, have played a game less than the Blues because of last weekend's postponed Merseyside Derby.
The match at Goodison has not yet been rearranged but Liverpool will be hoping to put another three points between them and Chelsea when it does take place. For Chelsea, though, all they can do is keep doing what they are doing - and that is winning.