Victory implications: What Southampton result means for Chelsea

Chelsea secured a commanding 5-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium, a result that could signal a turning point in their season. The Blues took an early lead through Axel Disasi, who headed in from an Enzo Fernández corner, but they were pegged back just four minutes later when Joe Aribo capitalized on slack defending to equalize for the hosts. Christopher Nkunku restored Chelsea’s advantage, pouncing on a defensive error to score, before Noni Madueke added a third. Southampton’s afternoon went from bad to worse when VAR intervened to dismiss Jack Stephens for a reckless hair tug on Marc Cucurella. Chelsea continued to dominate, with Cole Palmer tapping in from close range and Jadon Sancho netting his first goal for the club to cap off the rout. The traveling Blues fans celebrated with chants of “We’ve got our Chelsea back,” a refrain that may prove prophetic for this rejuvenated squad, while also serenading Enzo Maresca with his own chant, which is wonderful to see and hear.

The win felt like a cathartic release for a club that has endured a turbulent period since Todd Boehly and the Clearlake consortium took over from Roman Abramovich in 2022. What followed their ambitious but chaotic ownership transition were two forgettable seasons, including a disastrous 12th-place finish and an underwhelming sixth-place campaign. Critics often accused the new regime of lacking a coherent strategy, as an influx of new signings failed to gel and the managerial merry-go-round further undermined stability. The aura of dominance that defined the Abramovich era seemed like a distant memory, leaving fans questioning whether the club had lost its way.

This season, however, appears to be rewriting the narrative. When Enzo Maresca was appointed manager over the summer, many fans were skeptical about the decision to bring in a relatively unproven coach whose only successful senior managerial experience came at Leicester City. Yet, Maresca has silenced the doubters with his bold tactics, meticulous organization, and ability to extract the best from Chelsea’s star-studded but often inconsistent squad. The players look sharper, more unified, and, crucially, fully invested in the manager’s vision.

Despite Chelsea’s resurgence, Maresca continues to downplay any talk of a Premier League title challenge. Prior to Wednesday’s decimation of Southampton, Maresca reiterated that it’s “too early” to consider his team in the same bracket as Arsenal, Manchester City, or Liverpool as being league contenders this season. Citing their superior experience and consistency over recent seasons, he urged fans and media alike to temper expectations. This measured approach has been echoed by the squad, with Cole Palmer stating in his post-match interview after last weekend’s win over Aston Villa that Chelsea’s focus remains on steady progress rather than lofty ambitions. However, news had come out that it’ll take until March at the earliest for the club to really analyze where we’re heading to really say if CFC are well and truly in the race or not.

For now, Maresca and his team remain cautious. Arsenal, City, and Liverpool are undoubtedly still ahead in terms of experience and squad depth, but Chelsea’s steady climb under Maresca’s guidance is laying a foundation that could soon make them serious contenders. For now, the Blues are content to fly under the radar—winning games, building momentum, and proving that the West London giants are back on the right track. The next test for this rejuvenated side comes on Sunday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—a clash that will truly measure their intent for the season against a ‘big six’ club, and of course in a London derby.