Chelsea under Enzo Maresca have their swagger back ahead of a decisive period where performances need to turn into results

Chelsea have been enveloped in scepticism for a couple of seasons and for many that feeling was greater heading into the 2024/25 campaign.

A new manager at the helm – the third permanent Clearlake appointment – and another busy summer in the transfer market with familiar faces departing and new arrivals.

But Enzo Maresca, his coaching team and the players have blown many fans away with the ease at which they have adapted to a new environment and regime and picked up results along the way.

There have been shaky moments. The loss to Servette comes to mind as does the chaotic periods that cost the Blues at Anfield, but the opening months of the season can be viewed as a period of constant improvement and more growth will be needed in the coming weeks.

Maresca and his management of the squad

Since the new owners arrived, they have advocated having two players for every position and we are currently witnessing that dream unfold. One team plays in the Premier League whilst another focuses on the domestic cups and Conference League. And crucially they aren’t rigid teams either with fluency between the two.

This is a particular area Maresca has excelled in. Being predominantly involved in a ‘b team’ can be demotivating to any player, who naturally will have aspirations of playing at the top level in the pivotal matches. However, as evidenced in Chelsea’s Conference League encounters, there is a clear sense of enjoyment amongst the group and a desire to perform, win games and push for a regular starting spot in the Premier League.

Take Mykhailo Mudryk, who for many reasons is a perfect example. The Ukrainian has lacked confidence and a consistent run of games since arriving in West London. He has only started once in the Premier League this term, there have been three substitute appearances too. But behind-the-scenes and in the League Cup and Conference League, Maresca has worked tirelessly with him to reach a performance level that matches his obvious raw talent. It isn’t wrong to say there’s a lot of work remaining but the manner of Mudryk’s goal against Panathinaikos along with his post-match comments are testament to the progress being made.

Opportunities aplenty on a return to the European stage

The 2023/24 season was Chelsea’s first without European football since the Antonio Conte’s first season in charge, 2016/17. It was imperative the time away wasn’t extended to two seasons and because of the work Mauricio Pochettino did along with Maresca coming through the qualifier, Chelsea didn’t have to worry about that outcome.

The Conference League is a new competition for Chelsea to tick off too and hopefully come May, there will be a new trophy on display. Despite the unfamiliarity, it feels like a very similar opportunity as the successful 2018/19 Europa League campaign under Maurizio Sarri. A chance to rest key players, shown by Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana being left out of the group stage squad, and bring through the next crop of Chelsea players.

In this case, unlike 2018/19, it is more about creating a situation for the younger senior players signed to adapt to playing for Chelsea Football Club and provide strong competition for places on the weekends. Pedro Neto, Renato Veiga and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have all scored their first goal in blue with the first two becoming regulars off the bench in league action too.

There has been a healthy dose of Cobham sprinkled on top too. Kiano Dyer, Sam Rak-Sakyi and Shumaira Mheuka have all featured in the matchday squads whilst Tyrique George has appeared in both group games.

Playing off the right-hand side, not his favoured left, he shone in the 30 minutes he got against Panathinaikos, regularly testing the goalkeeper and providing an out ball down that side. Like Callum Hudson-Odoi under Sarri, the minutes Maresca gives George in this competition throughout the season will be pivotal in shaping his career, whether that ends up being at Chelsea or elsewhere.

A positive cameo from Tyrique George 💫#CFCSocial | #CFC pic.twitter.com/bRat5ynw8s

— The Chelsea Social (@TheChelsSocial) October 24, 2024

What can Chelsea and Maresca achieve this season?

The big question, the one every Chelsea fan pondered before the season and continue to evaluate and change their responses to as each week passes by. The sky is the limit is a popular phrase but fundamentally this season it feels imperative Chelsea find their way back to Champions League football.

Chelsea have spent two weeks in the top four since the start of the 2022/23 season, both coming this season. Defeat to Liverpool pushed them out of the coveted spaces and three points behind current occupants of fourth place, Aston Villa.

The natural attacking ability the Blues possess was on show in the chaotic 6-2 and 4-2 wins against Wolves and Brighton respectively. Scorelines that had become foreign to Chelsea and sometimes ones they were on the receiving end of, cough cough Wolves at home.

But weaknesses can be found in the goals conceded column. 10 in eight games isn’t alarming and not a worry at all. However, cheap concessions against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest stand out as do the circumstances around Liverpool’s two goals. Similar themes in the goals conceded in the Conference League only strengthen the concern around keeping regular clean sheets.

Maturity and experience in the young squad won’t grow overnight but the weakness can’t be ignored when evaluating the bigger picture at Chelsea. Marc Cucurella at 26 is the only regular Premier League starter in defence over the age of 25 – Levi Colwill is 21, Wesley Fofana, 23, Malo Gusto, 21, and the returning Reece James, 24.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea reaction with Jam

“My head is hot…”

🎥 | @Carefree_Jam pic.twitter.com/ssq8vpJ2rR

— The Chelsea Social (@TheChelsSocial) October 20, 2024

Liverpool away is out of the picture now but three more brutal Premier League games await the young defence, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal. No Chelsea fan needs reminding of the recent history at Old Trafford for the men’s team although on this occasion, the expectation will be to leave with all three points.

And previous performances against members of the historic ‘Big Six’ in Manchester City and Liverpool have been very positive. Chelsea and Maresca have gone toe-to-toe with the best in the English game though on both occasions they have been left pointless. If the club wants to scale the mountain back into the top four teams in the country, then it is crucial that points are earnt and collected against this calibre of opponents.

Whilst there is a joyous feeling around the club, you feel a failure to pick up at least six or seven points from those fixtures will only build the all too familiar feeling of frustration and question the progress made to date.

Written and edited by Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2)