Enzo Maresca has stated regardless of the result against Arsenal it’s too early to speak about Chelsea being in a title race.
The Blues have made a good start to the season and sit second six points behind early leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s top of the table clash.
A first win against the Gunners since 2021 would see the deficit cut to three, and put Chelsea very much in the title conversation at this stage of the season.
Enzo Maresca on Chelsea being title contenders
Chelsea have been handed a major boost ahead of the game with Cole Palmer now fit and available for the first time since 20th September.
Having beaten Barcelona 3-0, Arsenal will pose a tougher test in arguably the biggest game of the season for both sides.
Enzo Maresca arrives at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has overseen another strong start to the season. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
Chelsea were right up with Liverpool last season until they fell away at Christmas and into the New Year, and Maresca was asked about being title contenders ahead of Sunday’s game.
“I think it’s too early in any case, if we win, if we don’t win, I think it’s too early,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“We are still, end of November, we are still five, six months to go.
“I think it’s very important when we’re going to be in February, March, where we are, and from there we decide and we see if we can achieve something important.”
No expectation at Chelsea to win the title this season
When Chelsea were in a similar position last season, Maresca very publicly played down any notion the Blues were in a title race.
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BBC pundit Chris Sutton with a Chelsea logo.
Chelsea's logo on material.
Strasbourg's Stade de La Meinau
This time round it seems he’s very much trying to manage expectations with such a young squad, and it’s believed there’s no expectation at the club to win the title this season.
Chelsea are said to be of the view that Arsenal and Manchester City are still ahead of them, but the Blues need to challenge for the title at the earliest next season.