The worst approach for Chelsea to answer to their thrashing of Barcelona would be to succumb to the hype. The issue is that emotions in football shift from one extreme to another, as the individuals running things at the club have rapidly come to realize.
They have endured plenty of criticism for their different approach since buying the club from their former proprietor three years ago, so perhaps they are deserving to be a little wary now that the Blues are being praised for their player acquisition policy and talked up as prospective league challengers before welcoming their London rivals on Sunday.
In contrast to public perception, this is not a leadership that grows swept up easily. The starting disorder has calmed – the Blues have had four long-term coaches since their acquisition by the new leadership and their partners – and the goal of building a long-lasting forward-looking project is inconsistent with overresponding to one disappointing outcome, one good sequence of results or even one resounding triumph over Barça in the continental competition.
The directive has not altered since the beginning of the term: stay modest. It is valuable remembering that there was plenty of sceptical talk from outside when the Blues were defeated to United and Brighton at the end of September. Was any pundit speaking about a championship challenge then? Or, actually, after the side blew a one-goal cushion and lost at Stamford Bridge to the Championship side last month? The atmosphere was contrasting. Calm thinking were essential; the message from the top was that the manager and his players had to trust themselves after the defeat by Brighton.
Now, with draining travel matches against Leeds United and Bournemouth to follow next week, the attention is on ensuring the team are not lulled into satisfaction after that stunning beating of Barça.
Maybe that unflappable feel will assist the least experienced team in the Premier League remain level. Maresca, calm to a degree in his press interactions, plays into the approach. Chelsea were in a similar situation this time last year but the Italian frequently insisted they were not in the league race. He believed it was too early in their development. Maresca received backlash when Chelsea fell away and ended up in a battle for European entry – had he given the squad an escape route? – but he was in his maiden campaign as a Premier League boss. He and his team had to make mistakes and progress.
It is a conscious tactic. The manager is not given to making brave pronouncements, often saying he is looking ahead no beyond than the next match. His stance has not been altered by the Blues climbing to number two after five wins from their previous half-dozen games. It will almost certainly not even alter significantly if they defeat the Gunners and cut their opponents’ advantage to a few points.
“Whether we win, if we don’t prevail, I think it’s too premature,” the Italian said on Friday. “We are still in the eleventh month. It’s very important in winter, March, where we are. From there we’ll assess if we can achieve something meaningful.”
That was about as approximate as it gets to an acknowledgment that, indeed, it is possible for Chelsea to challenge the Gunners. Yet there is no pressure on the manager to claim the championship this campaign. The coach has goals to achieve but the leadership will not evaluate his performance until the following summer. They have zero intention to be pushed into dismissing a coach during a campaign again. The club seek consistency and are only just beginning their journey.
They have arrangements in position to recruit more youth in the summers of the future and later. They were questioned for moving on the winger to Arsenal last window but did so because transferring an experienced Premier League attacker had to be done to free up a spot for the arriving the Brazilian.
The winger is progressing. The youngster attacker was exceptional against Barcelona, netting a stunning strike, but the young prodigy is not expected to begin against the Gunners. His playing time is being cautiously managed by Maresca. The side had a affected warm-up period after progressing all the way in last previous international competition. Maresca’s heavy changes is evidence of a boss considering about long-term as well as today.
Despite the caution, though, it is also correct that Chelsea are completely able of beating the Gunners. the playmaker is back after two months lay-off and set to feature. Pedro Neto is in superb form in offence, and the enforcer and Enzo Fernández will compete with the Gunners’ centre power.
The head coach said beating PSG in that global tournament decider had aided his team’s mentality. He likes that they are distributing the goals around more evenly than the previous term, when there was too much reliance on the attacker. A deep bench will also offer him a multitude of ways to challenge the Gunners’ defensive power.
Can it be enough? Possibly not now. Chelsea at times are missing a ruthless finish and the defender’s unavailability with a long-term {
