Despite head coach Enzo Maresca continuously ruling out his side’s Premier League title ambitions, Chelsea’s enthralling 4-3 win away to Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs was a performance worthy of Champions.
Maresca’s men were two goals down from the 11th minute but fought their way to victory with goals from Palmer (2), Enzo Fernandez, and Jadon Sancho. They are the most informed team in the Premier League, having won four consecutive league games and having lost just once in their last 10 league matches.
Chelsea’s Attack under Maresca
The Blues have massively excelled in attack this season and are the league’s highest goalscorers with 35 goals scored from 32.6 xG and 54 big chances, having scored 2+ goals in their last six games in all competitions and 3+ goals in 3 consecutive Premier League matches with an average of 2.3 goals per game this season.
Maresca’s 3-2-2-3 tactical structure has worked to maximise the dynamism Chelsea possesses in Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho, and Pedro Neto. It might be arguable to say that Chelsea boasts one of the best attacking talents in the league, with Maresca’s side averaging 6.1 shots on target per match with the best shot conversion rate in the league (15.2%).
What is more intimidating is the quality of talent Maresca has at his disposal, with a minimum of two quality players in each position. Chelsea are spoilt for talent in the attacking department, with the likes of Nkunku, Marc Guiu, Joao Felix, and Mudryk struggling for game time.
Getting best our of quality at hand
Maresca has also seemed to bring out the best from underperforming players with Moises Caicedo’s stellar performance in midfield this season. The Ecuadorian struggled under former coach Mauricio Pochettino but has taken off like a duck to water under Maresca this season. His quality, both in and out of possession, has been the foundation of Chelsea’s freedom in attack.
The midfielder has won 63.8% of his ground tackles while also winning 65.2% of his aerial duels. This defensive solidity has been the springboard for Chelsea’s devastating fast breaks and counterattacks.
Chelsea always have options…
Another quality that has stood out from Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea this season has been the tactical flexibility Chelsea has showcased this season. They’ve been structurally fluid, often adapting to opposition tactics rather than being rigid in their tactical setup.
Against teams susceptible to counters, Chelsea has ceded possession, setting up in a low block and playing on the break. A good example is the 3-0 win away to West Ham, where they had just 43% possession. They’ve demonstrated they can hurt opposition teams in multiple ways rather than sticking solely to heavy possession-based football.
Contenders or Pretenders?
Though four points behind Liverpool in the league table, things are far from perfect for the London side. Defensively, they’ve shown weaknesses, and if Chelsea are to mount a credible title challenge against defensively solid Liverpool, improvements are necessary.
The xG model shows Chelsea have been fortunate defensively, conceding 18 goals from 22 xG—four less than expected. Their defence has often been caught flat-footed, with opposition teams targeting spaces left by inverting fullbacks. For context, league leaders Liverpool have conceded 13.7 xG in 14 Premier League games this season. If defence wins you titles, Maresca’s men need to shore up their defensive block.
With Champions Man City experiencing a poor run of form and Arsenal yet to hit their usual standards, Maresca’s men might have a chance against Arne Slot’s Liverpool. Chelsea’s squad depth is an overwhelming advantage with the Premier League about to enter the busy December run of fixtures. If Chelsea can sort their defence and maintain their attacking flair, the Blues faithful can dream of a Premier League title this season.
