Chelsea continued their impressive form by defeating Brentford 2-1. Meanwhile, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City could not achieve the desired results. This helped the True Blues to be confident about the Premier League trophy after many years of absence.
Chelsea is a stable team
Chelsea have won the most Premier League games since their 3-2 win over Newcastle in mid-March, and have picked up 61 points in that period, six more than Man City and Arsenal.
Mauricio Pochettino has helped the Blues regain their confidence and winning mentality in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, new coach Enzo Maresca has helped his players improve even more this season. If they continue to maintain their impressive form in the remaining 22 matches of the season, the English throne is unlikely to slip away.
The decline of the defending champion
The Man City winning machine is no longer running as smoothly as in previous seasons. Meanwhile, Arsenal won 89 points in the 2023-2024 season, Liverpool won 97 points in the 2018-2019 season, but still could not win the championship.
This is truly a season full of ups and downs as the big names are no longer able to maintain their usual stable form. If they can seize the opportunity, Enzo Maresca and his team can completely rise in the later stages of the season.
The key is named Cole Palmer.
At 22, Cole Palmer is performing impressively and becoming an irreplaceable pillar at Chelsea. The English midfielder has scored 11 goals in the Premier League this season, behind only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
Not only scoring, Palmer also contributed significantly in the ability to develop the ball, move around the field and create opportunities for his teammates. He was also the player who created the most scoring opportunities after 16 rounds.
No Champions League play
In the 2016-2017 season, Chelsea won the Premier League without having to participate in the Champions League. Similar to this year's season, they are focusing all their forces on the domestic arena. For example, number one star Cole Palmer was not registered in the first stage of the UEFA Conference League.
All 16 games the 22-year-old midfielder has played this season have come in the Premier League. With stars like Saka, Salah and Haaland all having to play in multiple competitions, this can easily lead to injuries as the season enters a tense period.
The squad has outstanding depth
Coach Enzo Maresca has used 32 players since the start of the tournament. The matches in the UEFA Conference League have allowed him to test many young players. Meanwhile, direct rivals such as Man City and Arsenal have continuously encountered difficulties due to injuries to key players.
Not only does the Italian coach rotate his squad, he also brings fair competition and a fighting spirit to his players. From being criticized for their confusing transfer policy, Chelsea now has the deepest squad in England.
