Enzo Maresca has once again made it clear that Chelsea are not contenders for the Premier League title, despite their 2-1 win over Brentford moving them to within two points of league leaders Liverpool.
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The victory, which extended Chelsea’s winning streak to five games, was marred by a late goal conceded to Bryan Mbeumo. This, according to Maresca, is one of the reasons why the team is not yet ready to challenge for the trophy.
Maresca’s Title Doubts Despite Chelsea’s Form
Chelsea have been on an impressive run of form, with many pundits suggesting that the Blues are now part of the title conversation.
However, Maresca remains unconvinced about their chances, citing the late goal conceded in the 90th minute against Brentford as evidence that Chelsea are not yet ready to compete at the highest level
The late strike from Mbeumo came after a throw-in for Chelsea, with Maresca frustrated by the way his team conceded a goal at such a critical moment. The Chelsea boss said:
“No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we’re not ready to compete for the title. One of the reasons is I think the team that knows how to compete to win titles will not concede a goal like we concede. A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they’re not going to concede.”
Despite this, Maresca acknowledged that his team has been performing well, but insisted that their defensive lapses prevent them from being true title contenders at this stage.
Praise for Robert Sanchez Amidst Title Talk
While Maresca remains cautious about Chelsea’s title hopes, he took time to praise goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for his critical role in the team’s recent successes.
Sanchez made a crucial save in Chelsea’s win over Brentford, adding to his impressive performances in earlier matches against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest.
Maresca pointed out Sanchez’s importance, saying: “If you remember Bournemouth away with the penalty; Aston Villa at home when one-v-one with Ollie Watkins; Nottingham Forest at the end of the game with the save; and then tonight, he (Sanchez) has made the save.”
The Chelsea boss also praised the competition for the goalkeeper spot, with Filip Jorgensen performing well in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Maresca expressed his satisfaction with both keepers, stating: “This is exactly what we want. Two keepers who can compete and they can help us win games.”
