At Stamford Bridge, there’s a renewed sense of optimism despite Chelsea’s recent home draw against Nottingham Forest just before the international break.
The overall mood remains positive as the club continues to show promise early in the season.
Chelsea’s strong start has fueled hopes that they are capable of achieving significant success this year.
Currently, Chelsea sits in fourth place in the Premier League after seven matches, having scored 16 goals and conceded 8.
They have secured four victories, two draws, and suffered only one defeat, which has boosted the confidence of both players and fans.
Their new head coach, Enzo Maresca, has quickly adapted to his role, bringing in a tactical philosophy that, while detailed, has been smoothly implemented into the team’s playing style.
As a result, Chelsea is performing in a more balanced and cohesive manner.
Though the team is not without weaknesses, the sense of optimism at the club is stronger than it has been in recent seasons.
Maresca’s approach has also encouraged healthy competition within the squad, with some players getting less game time than they might have expected.
Maresca has been transparent about the need for rotation and squad balance.
“I’m honest with all of them,” he said when asked about managing player expectations.
“We can’t play with seven or eight attacking players at once. There’s no balance in defense.”
His candidness reflects his understanding of maintaining a competitive yet united team atmosphere.
Chelsea boasts a wealth of attacking talent, but with only four forward positions available in Maresca’s system, several players are vying for limited opportunities.
Notable names like Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and young Marc Guiu are all competing for game time.
Guiu, an 18-year-old forward signed from Barcelona for £5 million, has shown promise but has struggled for minutes this season.
Despite his pre-season performances in the U.S., he has only made five appearances across all competitions, totaling just 168 minutes on the pitch, and has yet to score for the club.
Guiu was given chances in Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League playoff matches against Servette in August but has had few opportunities since.
There is growing speculation that a loan move in January may be the best option for his development.
A temporary move to a Championship club could help Guiu gain valuable experience, particularly in adjusting to the physical demands of English football.
Chelsea remains committed to keeping him long-term, and Guiu is eager to prove himself at Stamford Bridge.
However, with Nkunku and Jackson performing well, his chances this season may continue to be limited.
Ben Chilwell is another player facing an uncertain future at Chelsea.
The 27-year-old left-back was told in the summer that he wasn’t part of Maresca’s long-term plans.
However, a transfer never materialized, leaving Chilwell in a state of limbo.
He has made only one appearance this season, in a 5-0 win over Barrow.
Despite being included in Chelsea’s 25-man Premier League squad, Chilwell has yet to feature in any matchday squad under Maresca.
With Marc Cucurella and Renato Veiga excelling in the left-back position, it seems increasingly likely that Chilwell will seek a move away from the club in January to find more regular playing time.
Carney Chukwuemeka also finds himself in a difficult position.
The 20-year-old midfielder has only played once this season, again in the Barrow match.
Maresca has openly addressed Chukwuemeka’s situation, suggesting that a loan move could benefit the young player.
After Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton, where Chukwuemeka was left out of the squad, Maresca commented, “Carney is a very good player, but given the depth in the squad, it might be better for him to go somewhere else, play 30 or 35 games, and prove himself, rather than staying here and playing fewer matches.”
A loan in January seems likely for Chukwuemeka to gain more consistent playing time and develop further.
As Chelsea looks ahead to the January transfer window, Maresca seems content with his current squad.
However, football is unpredictable, and things could change before the window opens.
The club may need to offload several players to streamline the squad and stay focused on their season objectives.
For now, Chelsea appears well-positioned for a strong campaign, with hopes of competing at the top end of the Premier League and making an impact in European competitions.
