Back in December, Chelsea were title contenders in what is now a concluded title race. Under Enzo Maresca, the team was playing some of the most attractive football in the league—fast-paced, expansive, and seemingly unstoppable in attack. The midfield appeared balanced, and the defence which was porous for a variety of reasons last season looked more compact.
Between November 23 and December 15, Chelsea went on a run of five consecutive league wins, closing the gap on leaders Liverpool to two points. The atmosphere around the club at the time was one of excitement, and the discourse was that the club’s much ridiculed policy of signing mostly young players was beginning to pay off.
However, Maresca continued to downplay the team’s title charge.
“It’s not about how many games we win. It’s about being realistic,” said Maresca on Dec 15 after a 2-1 win against Brentford moved Chelsea to second and within two points of Liverpool. “There are things we have to do better. That’s why I said, for me, we are not ready. The fans, they can dream and think. But us inside as a club, as a squad, as players, as coaching staff, we need to be realistic.”
