Having clinched the Club World Cup, and previously the Champions League, the natural progression for Chelsea seems to be domestic supremacy. The question remains: can Enzo Maresca`s team realistically aim to add the Premier League title to their international accolades?
According to Levi Colwill, this ambition is not only possible but a fundamental expectation for any player representing Chelsea.
Colwill emphasized the club`s enduring identity: unity and an unwavering pursuit of victory. He drew parallels to club legends like John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba, stating that the current young squad, which he believes contains the “best players,” is committed to continuing this winning legacy. He cited their impressive 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, widely considered a top team, as proof of their capability.
It`s understandable for an academy product like Colwill, after years at the club, to feel optimistic, especially following such a dominant display – arguably Chelsea`s finest since their 2020-21 Champions League triumph. Enzo Maresca`s tactical approach was flawlessly executed, with his team demonstrating aggression, organization, and fearlessness. Sustaining such a performance level throughout a 38-game Premier League season would undoubtedly make them formidable contenders.
However, this consistent top-level performance has been Chelsea`s Achilles` heel under Maresca. Their first season saw them finish 15 points adrift of Liverpool, vying for a top-five spot despite early-season optimism about a title challenge. The final league standings more accurately reflected their position, far from the title race, despite a period of strong form in late autumn.
Last season, Chelsea struggled with goal scoring. While their defense, conceding 43 goals, was the league`s third-best, it needs significant improvement given their modest attacking output of 64 goals. Their expected goal difference of 21.16 was less than half of Liverpool`s and considerably lower than even an injury-hit Arsenal`s.
The victory over PSG was exceptional precisely because it was uncharacteristic. In matches against the other top-four teams last season, Chelsea managed only one win (a notable 3-1 over an already-crowned Liverpool), drawing one and losing four. Despite dominating possession, PSG, Luis Enrique`s European champions, managed only 17 touches in Chelsea`s box, fewer than Chelsea`s average Premier League opponent. This performance was marked by an early intensity that is often absent from a team sometimes criticized for passivity. Maresca`s side was brilliant, but unusually so.
There`s a potential pitfall in overstating Chelsea`s progress based solely on their cup successes under Maresca. While they dominated the Conference League, their path in the Club World Cup benefited from fortunate circumstances. Their second-place finish seemed auspicious after Benfica eliminated Bayern Munich. Subsequently, Al-Hilal and Fluminense cleared the way by defeating Manchester City and Inter Milan.
This perspective isn`t meant to diminish their impressive victory over PSG or the understandable euphoria among fans seeing the gold badge on their kits. However, it`s important to temper Todd Boehly`s strong assessment – “The boys have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with” – with the reality that their Club World Cup semifinal opponent, Fluminense, is ranked by Opta as being slightly below the level of Championship side Coventry City or La Liga`s Elche.
While cup success can provide momentum, skepticism remains regarding how this will translate into the upcoming 2025-26 season after a five-week break. Although individual growth is expected from such a young squad, their transfer strategy raises significant questions.
Joao Pedro had a promising start in the US, yet excluding penalties, his Premier League record over two seasons stands at 10 goals from 58 matches, with an average of 2.5 shots and 0.3 expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes. Nicolas Jackson, linked with Manchester United and AC Milan, boasts 24 goals, 2.78 shots, and 0.55 xG. The potential replacement of Noni Madueke with Jamie Gittens aims to address Chelsea`s persistent issue on the left flank. However, there`s a concern that Gittens, despite his short-term potential, might only perform at a similar level to the player he`s set to replace.
Chelsea`s transfer strategy is perplexing, especially with the Club World Cup winnings potentially available. There`s a clear opportunity to deviate from their pattern of signing high-potential $70 million youngsters and instead invest more in established star quality. For instance, replacing Jackson with an elite striker like Victor Osimhen, securing a top-tier central defender, and acquiring a world-class goalkeeper would create a truly formidable squad.
Despite these concerns, the team`s core, anchored by Moises Caicedo and ignited by Cole Palmer`s creativity, promises a bright future. Supported by talents like Reece James, Marc Cucurella, and Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea are not far from genuine title contention. However, their current recruitment decisions don`t appear to be the most optimal path to achieve this.
Ultimately, if Chelsea can consistently replicate the dominant performance shown against a weary PSG, there`s indeed reason to believe in their long-term vision. However, the world champions will need to demonstrate this elite level more regularly to truly become the undisputed best team in England.
