Champions of the World: Can Chelsea’s Blues Rise to the Challenge in the Premier League?

To truly compete with the likes of the World Champions and European Champions, Chelsea is the obvious next target. The question remains: Can Enzo Maresca’s squad be the first to simultaneously hold the Conference League, Club World Cup, and Premier League titles? (No actual belts exist, but they should!)

I spoke with Levi Colwill, who expressed that winning the ultimate trophy in football is possible for someone in his position, viewing it as a necessity. “We are a cohesive team, which is integral to Chelsea,” he stated. “We will secure the Club World Cup title. Everybody sticks together regardless of challenges, reminiscent of players like John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba—who laid the groundwork for us.”

Colwill is correct about the foundation set by academy graduates, as evidenced by their Champions League win in 2020-21, well over a decade after his tenure. It showed that it was not just the remnants of Chelsea’s past brilliance; Maresca executed his game plan with precision, leading his players to be attacking, structured, and bold. If they maintain this form through a 38-game season, limitless potential awaits any team.

However, therein lies the challenge. Chelsea didn’t consistently reach that level in Maresca’s debut season, finishing 15 points behind Liverpool and outside the top five. The final standings painted a clearer picture of their performance, which was more reflective of their ups and downs during the first half of the season, indicating they were far from title contention.

Despite showing a solid defense, ranking third in the league with 43 goals conceded, their offensive performance fell short, scoring only 64 goals. Their expected goals difference of 21.16 was significantly lower than Liverpool’s, highlighting gaps that need addressing. Arsenal also posed a challenge.

The win over PSG stood out due to its unusual nature. Chelsea’s performance against other top four contenders was uneven, losing four and managing just one draw out of six matches. Even Luis Enrique’s European champions could only muster 17 touches in the box that game—four less than Chelsea’s average opponent in top-flight. The passive tactics occasionally exposed them, especially in the opening minutes, but Maresca’s players displayed gnarly resilience that was memorable.

How Chelsea outsmarted Paris Saint-Germain in their own game to claim the Club World Cup title.

Pareep Cattry

Still, there is a chance that the Cup might misrepresent Chelsea’s progress under Maresca. They dominated in the Conference League, but their Club World Cup success felt a bit fortunate, especially after Benfica eliminated Bayern Munich.

It’s important to recognize the skill levels of the teams they’ve faced, offering no discredit to the achievements against European champions, nor the joy their fans share when they flaunt the gleaming gold badge on a sponsor-free kit. Todd Boehly’s enthusiastic praise for Chelsea’s Club World Cup performance echoed that sentiment: “The boys showcased their strength,” he conveyed to Talksport.

This victory surely builds momentum, but questions linger about how to manage five weeks of rest and preparation before the 2025-26 season kicks off. Chelsea has undoubtedly improved since last season, yet concerns about their transfer strategy remain. Despite Joao Pedro’s promising start, his scoring record calls into question his effectiveness, with just 10 goals in 58 Premier League games over two seasons.

In contrast, Manchester United and AC Milan see numbers like 24 goals alongside tighter averages. The swap of Noni Maduque for Jamie Gittens adds depth on a long-neglected left side, yet there’s an underlying worry about maintaining standards after signing more players that only match previous performance levels.

Intriguingly, Chelsea’s strategy seems to suggest that they can rise to new levels, especially now that the Club World Cup purse is in their possession. It’s a prime opportunity to invest in standout players: acquiring a premier striker like Osimhen to boost their attack, strengthening the defense with an elite center-back, and locking down a top goalkeeper would create a well-rounded team.

The outlook remains bright for Chelsea with players like Moises Caiceto serving as the foundation and Call Palmer adding creativity. Surrounding them are significant talents like Reece James, Marc Cucurella, and Enzo Fernandez, but there’s still a long road ahead. Chelsea isn’t quite yet in the title contention mix, and their recruitment strategy raises eyebrows regarding optimal moves toward that goal.

Nevertheless, Chelsea has shown its capability to compete against European giants, and if they build on this momentum, there’s potential to achieve their vision and return to the top tier of world football. It will require many more performances at this level before the champions can legitimately seek to reclaim the title at home.