Chelsea have won two trophies this season, credit to Enzo Maresca, and in large part, Cole Palmer. The Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, along with a top-four finish in the Premier League, are indications that the Blues possess both talent and a coach capable of producing results with the right methodology.
Last season, Chelsea were shaky during the middle part of the campaign but stabilised toward the end, making a top-four finish possible. Yes, everyone expected Maresca's men to win the Conference League, but then again, everyone also expected Paris Saint-Germain to win the Club World Cup after wins over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid with ease.
So, expectations don't always equate to victories. Chelsea’s performance in the Club World Cup deserves recognition for several reasons.
3 reasons Chelsea must be considered Premier League contenders next season
1. Pragmatism
Maresca had the sense not to sit back against Paris Saint-Germain, but also not to press them too far forward, even though he deployed a high line. The Blues boss relied on his team's pacy backline to deal with the over-the-top through balls that Luis Enrique’s side tried to play in behind. This should be noted, as the Italian manager has demonstrated this kind of pragmatism at several points throughout the season.
A pragmatic approach, when needed, allows the Blues to make the most of their key strengths in big matches: pace. If Chelsea can consistently deploy this style next season, it could lead to invaluable victories over direct rivals. Wins that could prove crucial at the end of the campaign.
2. Efficiency
This point is a bit trickier. Chelsea kept just 34% possession, yet created three big chances, took 10 shots, and scored three goals. That kind of efficiency should be acknowledged, though for a different reason. The Blues have not shown this level of clinical finishing consistently over the past season.
In fact, Chelsea missed 2.2 of every 3.2 big chances they created per game in the Premier League last season, across 38 games. They’ve been consistently poor at converting opportunities. That wastefulness extended to the Club World Cup final too. Against PSG, they missed two of the three big chances they created, though they were still efficient in terms of goals scored per shot taken.
Joao Pedro is likely to help Maresca’s men become more clinical next season. If the Blues want to compete for more than just a top-four finish, improving their efficiency in front of goal is essential.
3. Confidence
Chelsea’s players showed a level of confidence that, admittedly, made me uneasy at first. But it paid off. Their performance reflected a team that believed in its game plan. Next season, Maresca’s men will need that same belief, not only for big matches but also to meet the season’s expectations as a whole.
Levi Colwill’s comments about “not being Inter or Madrid” may have come across as arrogant, but confidence and arrogance often wear the same face. That belief will also help the coach, as confident players take necessary risks without being overly cautious.
These three factors are why Chelsea should be considered serious contenders for a top-two finish in the Premier League in the 2025/26 season. That is, as long as Maresca doesn't revert to a rigid “his way” approach, the kind that saw them lose 4-0 to Celtic in July 2024.
In the Club World Cup, Chelsea had to beat several teams to reach the final against PSG. While most of those opponents weren’t expected to pose much of a challenge, the win over the Champions League holders was significant because it finally earned the Blues some long-overdue respect from rival fans.
Premier League teams will be at least twice as difficult as most of the sides Chelsea faced in the Club World Cup. But over the past six months, this team has shown that they can hold their own against some of the world’s best, and PSG is currently the top of that list. That is a positive sign of progress and they are only expected to get better moving forward.