No English club won more than Chelsea during the Roman Abramovich years. Not Manchester United, not Arsenal, not Liverpool, not Manchester City, no one.
They were the blue colossi, successful in every competition. Five Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, three League Cups, two Europa Leagues, two Community Shields, the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
That sparkling legacy was what Chelsea's current owners hoped to buy with their billions in 2022: a winning machine geared to keep going. It's funny that they now want you to think that they are not in the Premier League title race.
Sorry Enzo Maresca and Co, but we don't buy the nonsense you sell. You are contenders, 100 percent.
I can't entirely blame Maresca for running away with the leash. Chelsea are not competing with the top dogs. He doesn't want his stars' heads to be in the clouds during this important phase of development. But if Chelsea can beat Everton and reach the top of the tree on Sunday, even if only until Liverpool take on Tottenham in the later match, everyone will know they are in this race.
It is easy to see that Maresca once worked closely with Pep Guardiola. Chelsea play faster, one-touch, two-touch football and they cannot close down opponents.
It's still amazing that City were ever willing to sell Cole Palmer because he has magical powers. When he is out of possession he is just as intelligent and knows when to link up with Nicolas Jackson to get high up the pitch. Palmer is forever on the move, taking up new positions to receive the ball. He is special in possession, with eleven goals, six assists and more chances created than any other player this season.
His powers will be needed on Sunday, against an Everton team with six clean sheets in their last nine games. But Chelsea will believe they have enough attacking prowess to beat the Blues with a midfield that is just right.
Enzo Fernandez looks like the World Cup winner we've been waiting for. His through balls are perfectly measured for Jackson, who has learned how to finish.
Maresca deserves credit for helping Jadon Sancho enjoy his football again as he competes on the left with Joao Felix. On the right there is a high level fight between Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke. Maresca makes players fight for their place in the team and ultimately to win the Premier League.
At Maresca itself it increasingly feels like they have the manager to achieve that. Guardiola's former assistant is convinced small steps are needed if the Blues want to become title winners.
A win over a determined Everton team would be a big step forward.
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