Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side continued their impressive run with a dominant 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. The win keeps the Blues level on points with Arsenal and two ahead of a struggling Manchester City.
Despite their success, Maresca is tempering expectations, asserting his team isn’t ready to challenge the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, or City for the Premier League title.
Maresca: “We’re Improving, But Not There Yet”
While Chelsea’s resurgence has been a bright spot this season, Maresca remains cautious:
“I think we are not ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool, and City for many reasons. Because we won today, I am not going to change my mind. But the good thing is we are improving, and hopefully, very soon, we will be there.”
Maresca credited his team’s preparation and praised Aston Villa manager Unai Emery:
“This was a very good game for many reasons. Emery is a top manager and has won trophies everywhere. We deserved the win, but we have to live through moments like this to grow.”
Chelsea’s Youth vs. the Experience of Rivals
Chelsea’s lack of big-game experience, according to Maresca, is a key reason they’re not yet title contenders:
“Our players have only played one major final — the Carabao Cup last year. Arsenal, Liverpool, and City’s players have been in finals and title runs. We’ll be there soon, but not yet.”
Villa Struggling in a Tougher Premier League Landscape
Aston Villa, on the other hand, are battling a downturn in form, slipping to the bottom half of the table. Manager Unai Emery admitted that the current campaign has been more challenging:
“This year is more difficult because teams are feeling stronger. Chelsea, for example, showed that today. We need to recover our confidence and aim for the top eight again.”
Emery highlighted how Villa’s opponents now approach them differently:
“Last year, we were a surprise. This year, teams see us as a top-seven opponent. They face us with more belief than before.”
What Lies Ahead
Chelsea continues to solidify under Maresca’s leadership, but the road to challenging the Premier League’s elite remains long. With promising performances and consistent improvement, the Blues are on a trajectory to rejoin the title race—sooner rather than later.