Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League, Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup in their first season under coach Enzo Maresca. So are they ready for the Premier League race?
Chelsea fans turned their backs on Maresca in the break against Fulham in April this year. Having won just one of their previous four Champions League games, their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were fading away until Tyrique George and Pedro Neto made a spectacular comeback. This was the turning point of the season.
Chelsea have won 13 of their last 15 matches as Maresca has adjusted their system and have also successfully tested it at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
"For me, the match was decided in the first 10 minutes. We have imposed a very good rhythm and pressing on PSG, forcing them to be passive. Although the conditions made it more difficult to maintain pressure, the players still showed great spirit and will" - Maresca said after the final match with PSG.
Reece James has played alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield, creating conditions for Enzo Fernandez to develop even more strongly. full-backs Marc Cucurella and Malo gust played more widely at the FIFA Club World Cup instead of being in the middle, while Cole Palmer also shined on the right wing.
In general, Maresca's control style has become more interesting.
Chelsea struggled when Nicolas Jackson suffered a hamstring injury mid-season. Christopher Nkunku could not fill the void and winger Pedro Neto had to play as a striker. Palmer's serious decline in form also coincides with their poor run of results.
They will no longer have the same problem in attack next season. The addition of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap has shown the club's determination to compete on all fronts. Chelsea can also rely on young players like Marc Guiu and George.
The trio have scored a total of 32 goals in the Premier League last season. The bigger problem will be to create conditions for all three to play regularly. Rumors about Jackson's departure have begun to spread.
Meanwhile, President Todd Boehly has now been able to prove that the £1.5 billion payment to Chelsea is not meaningless. A place in the Champions League, a Conference League title and a victory in the FIFA Club World Cup will lay a solid foundation for The Blues.
Chelsea are in really good form with a young squad, quickly inheriting the club's tradition of winning titles. The estimated prize money of around £111 million from the FIFA Club World Cup will also help them balance their budget.
According to many experts, the fixtures will give Chelsea a favorable start to the 2025-2026 season, starting with a home match against Crystal Palace. West Ham, Fulham and Brentford will be Chelsea's next opponents before they visit Manchester United.
However, how will they recover after a 6-4, 6-game season that ends in July? That is a difficult question to answer for Maresca.
