On Chelsea’s title prospects this season
With Chelsea firmly sitting in second place in the Premier League and easily defeating Barcelona in the Champions League, people can’t help but ask: Has this Blues side truly developed the strength to compete for titles on two fronts? More importantly, does the club internally believe it can go all the way?
Since the Boehly-Clearlake Consortium took over in 2022, Chelsea under Maurizio Maresca has been going through its most stable and successful transitional period. However, Kaveh Solhekol pointed out that on the eve of the crucial season showdown against Arsenal, there remains a clear understanding within Stamford Bridge.
Competing for titles on two fronts? Too early
Despite the exciting Champions League victory over Barcelona, Chelsea internally holds a realistic attitude towards title contention this season. The club believes Arsenal and Manchester City are still the top favorites in the Premier League, while more than a dozen elite teams in the Champions League have the ability to lift the trophy. However, the 1-3 away defeat to Bayern Munich in September serves as a reminder that the Blues are not yet mature. As Paris Saint-Germain proved last season—when they lost three group stage games but still won the final—the knockout stages are full of variables, but Chelsea believes it’s too early to claim the European crown this season.
Pragmatic planning: Five-year blueprint
The Boehly-Clearlake Consortium is focused on long-term building for the next five to ten years rather than seeking instant success. Currently, the club is content with not being listed as title favorites, which provides a more relaxed environment for the young squad to grow. Their goal is not to build "Estêvão FC" or "Palmer FC," but to construct a luxurious squad with six to seven talents of the same caliber.
This Sunday’s direct showdown against the Gunners will be a litmus test. A victory at Stamford Bridge will undoubtedly announce the club’s title ambitions this season, but even if the points gap is narrowed to 3, the Blues still need to replicate the miracle performance of their 2017 title-winning campaign. The lessons from home defeats to Brighton and Sunderland this season show that the team is far from perfect.
Maresca’s path of transformation
Although he led the team to win the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup last season and secured a Champions League spot, Maresca’s relationship with fans has always been lukewarm. This is not only related to the delicate situation of succeeding Mauricio Pochettino but also stems from his tactical style, which is vastly different from traditional Chelsea football.
Earlier this year, this triggered dissatisfaction among fans, but the Italian coach’s passionate celebration when Estêvão scored a late winner against Liverpool in October became a turning point in the relationship. While he has not yet won the same affection as his predecessors, his sophisticated squad rotation (102 changes this season) and the winning culture he has injected into the team are gradually gaining recognition.
Estêvão’s choice
The core of Chelsea’s recruitment policy is to secure rising stars before they become famous. Estêvão chose the Blues because he recognized the project plan: his desire to play in the Premier League, yearning for life in London, and confidence in getting playing time. Chelsea’s sincerity—spending £29 million and allowing him to stay at Palmeiras until this summer—finally defeated competitors such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona. The sale of Madueke to Arsenal in the summer further freed up room for the Brazilian talent to grow.
Reserve of future stars
The new football leadership team has established a five-director system, with a key priority being to maintain a leading pursuit of future stars. Next summer, 18-year-old Sporting Lisbon winger Georginio Kunda (transfer fee rising to £40 million), 17-year-old Almaty Kairat forward Satpayev, Corinthians left-back Dener, and Strasbourg striker Emega will join simultaneously. 16-year-old Ecuadorian center-back Ordóñez is set to join in January 2028.
