Chelsea’s revival under Enzo Maresca has brought hope to Stamford Bridge. Sitting third in the 2024/25 Premier League season, the Blues are showing signs of improvement. However, their journey to challenge for the league title remains a work in progress.
Chelsea have an offence capable of taking on the Premier League’s best teams. However, they still lack the defensive solidity to challenge for the 2024/25 Premier League title.
As per the odds on Easybet, Chelsea is 15.34 to win the Premier League. A lack of balance and solidity that comes with experience can explain why Liverpool (2.22) are already nine points clear of them.
Chelsea’s Current Standing in the 2024/25 Season
The 2024/25 season has seen Chelsea rise to third in the league table. They trail Liverpool by nine points, with the Reds currently leading the pack. Under new management, Chelsea has found a more competitive edge, but the gap between them and Liverpool underscores the work that lies ahead.
One glaring issue is their defensive record. While Liverpool have conceded just six goals, Chelsea have let in 13. This discrepancy highlights a critical area where Chelsea needs improvement if they hope to challenge for the title.
A Look Back: Defensive Struggles in the 2023/24 Season
Chelsea’s defensive woes are not new. In the 2023/24 season, they conceded a staggering 63 goals in the league. This porous defence was one of the major reasons they failed to secure a top-four finish and missed out on a title challenge.
Defensive stability has been a longstanding problem at Stamford Bridge, and it remains the main reason why a title challenge may be at least two seasons away. While they have strengthened in certain areas, the defensive structure needs to improve dramatically if they are to close the gap on Liverpool and other top clubs.
Midfield Balance: Supporting the Defence
A key component of any strong defensive line is the support it receives from midfield. Chelsea’s midfield has evolved in recent seasons, with players who excel in both attacking play and defensive cover. However, finding the right balance is crucial.
In games where Chelsea have been outplayed defensively, it’s often been due to a lack of midfield cohesion. Midfielders must track back effectively and disrupt opposition play, ensuring that the defence does not become overwhelmed.
This requires both tactical awareness and consistent performance, something that will take time to achieve. Chelsea’s coaching staff will need to work on synchronising midfield and defence if they are to stop conceding unnecessary goals.
At least in the midfield aspect, they have strengthened under Maresca. Moises Caicedo looks like a general in the mould of Claude Makelele. Romeo Lavia is currently starting alongside him with Enzo Fernández providing cover on the bench.
However, Chelsea is still prone to lapses at the back, such as in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal (4.31) where Levi Colwill enabled the Gunners to beat the offside trap and Gabriel Martinelli to score.
How Long Will It Take for the Blues to Be at Their Best?
Until they gain experience and solidity all over the field, Chelsea will not be ready to challenge for the Premier League title.
They are about as far off the title as they were before José Mourinho’s return in 2013. Mourinho turned Chelsea back into a solid unit, but it took him two years to win the Premier League title.
Maresca has his own brand of football, but given the gap to Liverpool, it will likely take around the same amount of time to shore up now as it did around a decade ago.
