Even though Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca refuses to discuss his team’s status as potential Premier League title contenders, the media’s discussion only intensified following the weekend’s results.
Chelsea made it five consecutive victories in the Premier League by beating Brentford 2-1 on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca continues to shine in his first season as the Blues head coach. In fact, Joe Cole thinks Chelsea’s Maresca is the manager of the season so far.
Following the recent results up and down the country, the Blues sit second in the division table in a healthy position.
Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Moises Caicedo, Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer during the Premier L...
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Jamie Carragher insists Chelsea are in title race
Jamie Carragher acknowledges that Chelsea are now major players in this season’s Premier League title race. However, he’s predicting that they’ll end up falling short because of their defensive weaknesses.
“They are in a title challenge. There is no doubt about that. I don’t personally think Chelsea will win the league this season,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“I just think at centre-back and goalkeeper Arsenal and Liverpool are still stronger in that area. I think you definitely need a really top goalkeeper and two centre-backs if you are to win a league title. I might be proven wrong, I hope I’m not.
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“I think the one thing in their favour is they’ve got a much less busy schedule. He changes the whole team for European games because of the competition they’re in. Arsenal and Liverpool don’t have that luxury when they’re qualifying for the Champions League in the second half of the season.”
Interestingly, Ian Wright recently urged Chelsea to sign a goalkeeper and central defender to help them make the step to the “next level”.
In fairness, Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez proved how good he can be versus Brentford. Can he find that consistency in his game, though?
In terms of the heart of defence, Chelsea are considering a January move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi. That would be some statement if they re-sign the England international midway through the season.
Chelsea have chance to keep up momentum
On paper, Chelsea have a great opportunity to apply some more pressure on the teams at the top end of the table.
The Premier League rarely gives you an easy fixture. However, Maresca’s side now face a league run during the festive schedule that seems to favour them.
If Chelsea can keep extending this winning run into the New Year, they’re going to find themselves right in the thick of it at the league’s summit.
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