Heading into the November worldwide break, Chelsea are at present positioned third within the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s facet are 9 factors behind league leaders Liverpool, whereas 4 factors adrift of Manchester Metropolis in second place. sit above Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion on purpose distinction, with all 4 sides on 19 factors.
Within the first 11 video games, Chelsea have already performed the likes of Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion. It has been removed from a cushty begin to the marketing campaign.
Simply two defeats up to now this season which have come in opposition to the highest two, Liverpool and Man Metropolis. Chelsea will rue a number of of these attracts, however having overcome the start of the marketing campaign and popping out in third, regardless if the desk makes for shut studying, they may definitely have accepted it previous to the season beginning.
Much more so with ‘s newest fixture issue rating, which has decided Chelsea’s first 10 matches to be the third hardest schedule within the league.
Maresca’s facet has seen his facet’s first 10 video games draw a mean opponent issue score of 88.7, with solely Wolves and Bournemouth having harder fixtures.
Since numbers are crunched greater than ever these days, this may please Maresca and Chelsea’s analytical division, providing them affirmation that they’ve had a optimistic begin to the season.
“To be sincere, it is good, particularly for the followers as a result of the final interval has not been nice or nearly as good because the membership are used to,” Maresca stated on Chelsea’s third place place. “We’re completely happy.”
However the work is barely simply beginning and Chelsea have given themselves the platform to shine and construct on their early season type with their run of fixtures which await them between now and the tip of the yr.
Newly-promoted sides Leicester Metropolis, Southampton and Ipswich City are to return, all away from house, earlier than 2024 concludes, with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur arguably essentially the most tough of the fixtures.
Brentford, Everton and Fulham full the fixture schedule for Chelsea as Crystal Palace awaits on January 4th 2025, which provides Maresca and the Blues a golden probability to cement their place within the prime 4.
As soon as 2025 begins, Chelsea needs to be seeing themselves nonetheless within the prime 4 with a wholesome variety of factors heading into the second half of the season. They have by some essentially the most tough matches, so now it is time to make the most of the extra beneficial matches on paper. If there’s a time to guage Chelsea… it is now.