For far too long, Chelsea have been their own worst enemy when it comes to certain opponents. You know the ones—the teams that don’t make the highlight reels but somehow turn into prime Barcelona when the Blues come to town. Trips to hostile grounds and frustrating home performances have haunted Chelsea in recent years, but under Enzo Maresca, those bad habits are starting to fade.
This season, Chelsea haven’t just been beating their bogey teams—they’ve been doing it with purpose. Whether at Stamford Bridge or on the road, Maresca’s Blues are proving that resilience and composure can rewrite the script.
Finally buzzing against Brentford
Brentford have been a thorn in Chelsea’s side since they re-entered the Premier League. Their bagsmen up top, suborn low block, and love for chaos left Chelsea bruised and battered in recent years, with just one win at Stamford Bridge since 2017 to show for their efforts. However, Sunday’s evening felt different.
The Blues were undoubtedly tested, but Maresca was a step ahead, crafting a plan to dismantle Thomas Frank’s stubborn low block—over the top balls. After what felt like countless crosses into the box, persistence finally paid off. Marc Cucurella—yes, him—popped up with the equalizer to drag Chelsea back into the game, and Nicolas Jackson sealed the win with a nice finish. A 2-1 scoreline didn’t just give Chelsea three points; it felt like an exorcism of sorts.
Maresca’s Chelsea didn’t just survive Brentford’s trademark aggression—they neutralized it. The Bees’ usual sting in transition was nowhere to be found, and Stamford Bridge celebrated like a weight had been lifted.
Villans not so scary
Aston Villa, despite a rough patch, can be such a dangerous side, so December 1st’s clash felt like a litmus test for Chelsea. Before this, the Blues had only beaten Villa once at Stamford Bridge since 2021, with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran in their vibrant attack often running riot.
Not this time.
Chelsea’s 3-0 win was as comprehensive as it gets. Nicolas Jackson kicked things off, Enzo Fernández added his name to the scoresheet, and Cole Palmer again, capped it off with a beautiful curler to the top corner.
Defensively, for the most part, was a masterclass. Watkins was kept on a tight leash, Jhon Durán’s late cameo barely registered, and Villa simply ran out of ideas. For Chelsea, it wasn’t just about breaking a poor run—it was a reminder that Stamford Bridge should never feel like a welcome mat for anyone.