The worst approach for Chelsea to react to their dominant victory of Barça would be to succumb to the excitement. The problem is that emotions in football fluctuate from one end to another, as the individuals overseeing things at Chelsea have swiftly come to appreciate.
They have endured plenty of ridicule for their unconventional method since buying the side from Roman Abramovich three years ago, so maybe they are entitled to be a little wary now that the team are being praised for their player acquisition strategy and talked up as possible league contenders before welcoming the Gunners on Sunday.
Contrary to public perception, this is not a board that becomes carried away easily. The early turmoil has settled – the club have had four permanent head coaches since their takeover by Todd Boehly and the investment group – and the objective of building a enduring future-oriented initiative is inconsistent with panicking to one poor result, one good run of results or even one convincing victory over Barcelona in the Champions League.
The message has not shifted since the start of the term: remain modest. It is worth recalling that there was plenty of sceptical commentary from external sources when the Blues lost to Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at the close of September. Was any pundit speaking about a league bid then? Or, actually, after the club squandered a one-goal cushion and lost at Stamford Bridge to the Championship side last month? The sentiment was different. Cool thinking were necessary; the message from on high was that the head coach and his players had to trust themselves after the loss by the Seagulls.
Now, with tough away fixtures against Leeds and the Cherries to arrive next week, the priority is on making sure the team are not tricked into satisfaction after that stunning beating of the Spanish side.
Possibly that unflappable atmosphere will aid the most youthful team in the Premier League keep level. the coach, composed to a extreme in his public dealings, plays into the plan. The Blues were in a comparable place this time last year but the head coach frequently stated they were not in the title contest. He felt it was too premature in their growth. Maresca received criticism when the club dropped off and concluded in a struggle for Champions League qualification – had he offered the players an escape route? – but he was in his debut campaign as a Premier League boss. He and his players had to make mistakes and develop.
It is a deliberate strategy. The head coach is not prone to making brave statements, often remarking he is looking ahead no more than the next game. His position has not been shifted by Chelsea moving up to number two after several victories from their previous multiple games. It will probably not even alter significantly if they beat Arsenal and reduce their rivals’ gap to a few points.
“Whether we triumph, if we do not win, I think it’s too premature,” Maresca said on Friday. “We are still in November. It’s incredibly important in February, spring, where we are. From there we’ll determine if we can attain something important.”
That was about as close as it comes to an admission that, indeed, it is feasible for the side to upset Arsenal. Yet there is no pressure on the manager to win the championship this term. The 45-year-old has objectives to reach but the club will not evaluate his contributions until this summer. They have absolutely no wish to be pushed into sacking a boss during a campaign again. The Blues want continuity and are only just starting out.
They have deals in position to recruit more youth in the summers of 2026 and later. They were scrutinised for transferring Noni Madueke to their rivals last off-season but did so because transferring an established Premier League player had to be done to create room for the incoming Estêvão Willian.
The youngster is progressing. The teenager winger was exceptional against Barça, scoring a stunning goal, but the South American starlet is unlikely to start against Arsenal. His playing time is being cautiously overseen by the manager. Chelsea had a interrupted pre-season after making it all the way in last summer’s international competition. The manager’s heavy squad rotation is proof of a manager planning about the future as well as the present.
Notwithstanding the moderation, though, it is also correct that Chelsea are completely equipped of beating Arsenal. the playmaker is back after an extended absence and prepared to feature. Pedro Neto is in excellent shape in attack, and the enforcer and the midfielder will match the Gunners’ centre strength.
Maresca said overcoming the French champions in that international competition final had benefited his squad’s mindset. He values that they are distributing the goals around more evenly than last campaign, when there was too much reliance on Palmer. A deep reserves will also offer him a multitude of options to confront their rivals’ defensive strength.
Can it be enough? Perhaps not yet. Chelsea sometimes do not have a ruthless edge and the centre-back’s injury with a prolonged {
