Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes Chelsea are genuine “title contenders” after winning the Club World Cup.
Speaking to BetBrain, Aldridge said that the manner of their win over European champions Paris Saint-Germain will send out a warning to the rest of the Premier League that they can compete for honours next season:
“I do think Chelsea are title contenders for next season. They’re a danger – they seem to have bought well, and anyone who takes PSG on and beats them in that manner is laying down a marker for the rest of the Premier League.”
“On their day, I think they can beat anyone. The question is whether they can sustain those levels of performances over the course of the season. I think they’re a dangerous side to the remaining three title challengers in Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, so it will be interesting to see how they perform next season.”
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The Blues’ chances have certainly not been harmed by their Club World Cup triumph, but it must be pointed out that winning a knockout competition is a lot different to finishing top of the table after 38 games.
Will the Club World Cup impact the squad’s fitness?
Another concern will be fatigue. Chelsea have only just finished their season, while other title contenders, such as Liverpool and Arsenal, have already returned to training. The Reds have even played their first pre-season friendly.
The size of Maresca’s squad should mitigate concerns about fitness to some extent, but you do wonder whether the lack of time off this summer will have an impact when we get to the run-in by April and May next year.
In other news, Chelsea have made fresh contact with the agent of a £40m-rated winger