ENZO MARESCA INSISTS CHELSEA ARE NOT TITLE CONTENDERS YET; "ASK AGAIN IN MARCH."
Despite a heroic 1-1 draw with Arsenal, Maresca and club insiders agree title talk is premature. The top four are the current, primary targets.
We sometimes try to get Chelsea to talk about winning the title, sure.
The reporters who often go to Enzo Maresca’s press meetings probably don't bring it up every week. By now, we all know what he'll say and the look he'll give you. But once in a while, a new person will give it a shot.
Hi Enzo, hope you're doing well. I wanted to ask, is Chelsea in the title race, and can you win it?
The latest try came on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. It was as good a time as any, since they had just tied Arsenal 1-1, even though they played most of the game with only 10 players, after Moises Caicedo, their key player, was sent off.
Doesn't your game today prove you can challenge Arsenal and the others?
Maresca started his answer by apologising for being boring and repetitive. He told us Chelsea isn't going to win the title. He said it's too early to talk about that, mostly this season. It's only November, December, he said. "Ask again in February or March," he said.
Chelsea tied the league leaders, even after playing most of the game with 10 players. But Maresca says that it’s still too early to talk about their chances of winning the Premier League.
So, the Magic 8 Ball was shaken, and like before, it said, Ask again later.
But Maresca won't be scolded by his bosses for his view because they agree with him. Like actors who won't say Macbeth in theatres because they think it will bring bad luck, nobody at Chelsea will mention the title right now.
Last season, people were a bit shocked when Maresca said Chelsea’s owners didn't tell him to finish in the top four. This is different.
Anyone who says they’re in the title race this early in the season is wrong. Unless you actually win, there's not much to gain from saying you're going to go for it.
Instead, Chelsea wants to keep doing what they're doing and see where it leads them. Their main goal is to finish in the Premier League’s top four. They’ll see where that leaves them.
If they’re still close to Arsenal and Manchester City in February, Maresca might change his mind. But until then, it’s, You’re saying that, but we’re not thinking that. Next question.
Chelsea insiders think Arsenal and City are the teams to beat this season, and it’s hard to argue. Arsenal added more players to their team in the summer, as they need to compete, and they’ve finished second in the last three seasons.
City has Erling Haaland, who can make a big difference, and they’ve been there, done that, winning six titles since 2017 under Pep Guardiola.
The Daily Mail Sport put up a poll on social media yesterday, asking, Do you think Chelsea can actually win the title this season? After 1,000 votes, it was exactly 50-50. After a few hundred more votes, it was 49.5 per cent saying yes and 50.5 per cent saying no.
The fans are split, and me? After thinking about it, I'd have to say no for now. They're getting closer, I think, but this season feels too soon.
They're the youngest team in Premier League history. They're still learning to play together after Chelsea decided to rebuild their attack in the summer, which isn't normal after finishing fourth.
They have a 45-year-old head coach who, while clearly a good tactician, will tell you he's still learning.
They’ve been a bit naive at times, like with the four red cards they’ve gotten in the Premier League this season. If they keep this up, they’ll break Sunderland and QPR’s record of nine in a season.
They don’t have a Haaland-type goalscorer because they’re thinking long-term instead of spending big on one proven player.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but signing young players means you have to be patient. They’ve shown they can play well against Arsenal and Barcelona in those big games, but then they have those bad days, like the loss to Sunderland and the tie with Qarabag.
Chelsea’s next Premier League games are against Leeds, Bournemouth, and Everton, and while they look like wins on paper, it’s still not clear how they’ll do as the favourites.
Chelsea has a lot going for them. The way they handled not having Cole Palmer—winning 10 of their 13 games when he was hurt—was good to see.
He’s back now, and Maresca has been rotating players all season to get ready for the busy schedule ahead, using all the players he has.
They’re getting used to winning after the Club World Cup win in the summer.
Right now, it doesn’t feel like enough to be the best team in England after 38 games, but hey, ask me again in February or March.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
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Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
JESSE DERRY MAKES FIRST CHELSEA START AS MCFARLANE SHUFFLES THE TACTICAL DECK
Chelsea stars Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto miss the Forest clash with knocks, handing 18-year-old Jesse Derry a shock start.
Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto both picked up knocks before Chelsea’s match against Nottingham StadiumNest has learnt. They’d started in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final, but both missed out on the squad at Stamford Bridge this time.
Calum McFarlane spoke to Sky Sports before kickoff and explained what happened. “It’s nothing serious, just knocks in training. We’re just managing it,” he said.
With them out, Jesse Derry and Cole Palmer came into the starting lineup. Derry, just 18 and only recently breaking into the Chelsea first team, now had a big chance. McFarlane spoke highly of him: “It’s a great opportunity for Jesse. He’s been training with us a lot, he’s played in other games, and we know what he can do. I’ve worked with him before. The lads trust him, and so do I. He’s been excellent in training. We’re really excited for him.”
On Friday at Cobham, Chelsea’s interim boss said the win at Wembley lifted everyone’s mood. “When things aren’t going well, it’s tough. You're not getting the results you want, and it weighs on you. But a single win can turn all that around. The atmosphere has been good, the lads are training well, and the staff feel it too. The energy’s back at Cobham, so we want to keep that going.”
Now, at 38, McFarlane takes charge for the first time at Stamford Bridge. “I’m really looking forward to it. Forest is a strong side, and it’ll be tough, but it’s an honour to lead the team here. I’ve been part of the backroom staff before, but this is something different. Leading the side in front of the home fans? That’s special. I hope we can put in a performance as we did at Wembley.”
He knows the crowd has a big part to play. “We need the fans behind us, bringing energy and really backing the team. There’s still so much to play for; the cup final’s coming, and Champions League qualification is up for grabs. We want to win every game left. Two more at the Bridge, right? We want to make them count, so we need everyone pulling together.”
Chelsea fell behind in the race for the Champions League under Liam Rosenior, dropping 10 points off the pace. Is top-four still possible? McFarlane kept it simple: “All we can do is win our games and not worry about the rest. If we focus on our own performance, the results will take care of themselves. It’s about each match, each day, each session.”
Forest, fresh off a 1-0 first-leg win over Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-finals, is no easy opponent. McFarlane knows that. “They’re in really good form, packed with quality and real threats. So, it’s another huge challenge, just like every Premier League game. But we’ll be ready.”
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