Enzo Maresca says Chelsea are forward of expectations however Premier League outcomes and Robert Sanchez type increase doubts | Soccer Information

“I think we evolved a lot as a team since we started. Probably we are ahead of my expectation in terms of the way we play and also in terms of results.”

Enzo Maresca was bullish in regards to the progress his aspect have made since his appointment final summer season when talking forward of Chelsea’s journey to Manchester Metropolis final weekend.

However that progress was not on show on the Etihad, the place Guardiola engineered a second comfy victory of the season over his former protege, regardless of being within the midst of his worst season in Manchester.

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Not that Maresca was deterred. “In my opinion, we are a better team than one month ago, two months ago,” he mentioned within the wake of defeat.

The place does Maresca’s optimism come from? A run of one win in seven Premier League video games leaves Chelsea sixth forward of this weekend’s fixtures, 13 factors behind Liverpool, who’ve a recreation in hand.

Maresca could level to his aspect’s sudden inefficiency in assault as the rationale for this malaise. However six weeks in the past, they have been two factors off prime spot after successful their seventh consecutive match in all competitions and having to minimize discuss of a primary real looking title problem since they final lifted the trophy eight years in the past.

No one is speaking of the title anymore. Chelsea have even slipped out of the qualification locations for the Champions League – a contest they’ve gained twice however failed to succeed in for the previous two seasons.

Has Maresca actually watched his staff take six factors from their final seven league video games and determined they’ve improved throughout that point?

In fact, the top coach could level to the outcomes he was overseeing earlier than this winter stoop to justify his assertion that Chelsea are forward of expectations.

The Blues misplaced simply 4 of 27 matches throughout all competitions earlier than Christmas and cruised to the prime of the Convention League desk.

Nevertheless it’s additionally value who Chelsea earned their factors towards. They’ve misplaced simply as soon as towards sides presently within the backside half of the Premier League but have gained solely 4 of 11 fixtures towards groups within the prime 10.

In 4 video games towards Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis, they’ve taken a single level.

After 34 matches in cost, what’s Maresca’s most spectacular consequence? Maybe the 4-3 comeback win at Tottenham however Spurs have misplaced greater than half their league video games this season. Perhaps it is the house victories towards Newcastle and Aston Villa?

Spectacular, sure, however none of these outcomes marked a turning level or supplied a press release to recommend that Chelsea are again among the many elite.

In truth, how a lot have they actually progressed since parting methods with Mauricio Pochettino? After a rocky first half to his solely season in cost, Maresca’s predecessor steadied the ship in 2024 and led Chelsea to a sixth-placed end on the again of a five-game successful run. However simply as momentum was constructing, the connection ended.

Eight months on, Chelsea stay sixth. They’ve gained fewer factors and scored fewer objectives within the Premier League beneath Maresca than they did throughout the second half of Pochettino’s reign, though the anticipated objectives for and towards are extra beneficial in direction of the Italian.

Sky Sports activities’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol famous that “Chelsea believe they are a Champions League club” when commenting on Pochettino’s exit. Most supporters would say the identical. So whose expectations are Chelsea exceeding?

Maybe Maresca is selecting to stay upbeat to reassure his gamers throughout their first stoop beneath his tutelage. However similarities could be drawn with Chelsea’s present type and the way in which Leicester’s outcomes declined beneath him final 12 months.

After successful 25 of their first 32 Championship matches, Leicester’s outcomes nosedived from February onwards, shedding six out of 10 earlier than rallying simply in time.

Regardless of their eventual success, there was a way that not all Foxes followers have been disenchanted at his exit. Maresca additionally confronted questions over his techniques and staff choices throughout his time at Leicester. “The moment there is some doubt about the idea, the day after, I will leave,” he mentioned final January.

Issues are removed from that dangerous for Maresca however his selections are once more coming beneath scrutiny. The religion proven in Robert Sanchez isn’t shared by the Stamford Bridge crowd, a few of whom have jeered the goalkeeper in current weeks.

Putting in Sanchez as his No 1 after he was dropped by Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and Pochettino at Chelsea was a daring name by Maresca, particularly with £20.5m summer season signing Filip Jorgensen on the bench. It has not paid off.

Maresca’s reluctance to make use of sure members of his squad within the Premier League has additionally raised eyebrows. Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku – signed for a complete of £115m – have simply seven league begins mixed.

Maresca did cede some floor within the Sanchez debate after his error within the defeat to Metropolis, admitting: “Robert is completely aware he has to do better.” No public ensures have been given to Sanchez about protecting his place for Chelsea’s subsequent recreation – at house to West Ham on Monday Night time Soccer.

The Hammers’ go to to west London may even mark the primary return of certainly one of Chelsea’s many former managers. Like Maresca, Graham Potter – a former team-mate of the present Blues boss at West Brom – was given his first shot at an enormous membership by Chelsea.

Additionally like Maresca, Potter loved a strong begin to life in west London, going unbeaten in his first 9 video games.

However hassle was simply across the nook. A blip in type turned a stoop, which then turned a disaster – after which resulted in a sacking.

The chaos that swallowed up Potter not engulfs Chelsea to the identical extent. Classes have been realized.

However on Monday night time, Maresca will come face-to-face with a supervisor who can attest to how shortly fortunes can change at Stamford Bridge.

Watch Chelsea vs West Ham on Monday, dwell on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion and Premier League from 6.30pm; kick-off 8pm. Stream with NOW.