Chelsea ended the first season of Enzo Maresca as head coach in a big high, finished in the Champions League places, won the UEFA Conference League and then won the FIFA Club World Cup with a wonderful last win over Paris Saint-Germain
Alan Shearer insists that you have to be “very, very brave” to retire against Chelsea who is involved in the Premier League title this season – while he greeted Enzo Maresca for the “beautiful” task he has done on Stamford Bridge.
The Italian coach, who arrived in West Londs last summer after he led Leicester City to the championship title, came under the widespread control last season – with his earlier relationship with Pep Guardiola, who had been worked as a coach in Manchester City who previously saw him cruel as 'diet Pep' in some quarters.
But Chelsea strongly finished the 2024-25 campaign, ended in the Champions League places, won the UEFA Conference League and then deposited the European Champions Paris Saint-Germain aside with a wonderful final display to win the FIFA Club World Cup.
Maresca impressively did that, while club heads continue to spend great in the transfer market in adding more young talent to the youngest team of the Premier League. Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and £ 60m striker Joao Pedro have all arrived, while a number of players – including Noni Madueke and Christopher Nunku – will leave.
Maresca, vocally supported by Cole Palmer after the victory over PSG in New York, has worked on ironing the inconsistencies on his part and his side, tactical and mentally, to a point where they can challenge the will of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in a title fight in a title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle and title battle. cup competitions. And former captain of England Shearer believes that the blues -boss may have done exactly that.
“I think a whole, very brave person is needed to say that Chelsea would not be involved in the title hunt next year because of what they have achieved this season, what they have just achieved [winning the Club World Cup]Who they have signed, who they will sign, “said Shearer in the last episode of the rest is football.
“I think you should say they will be involved in the title race.”
Speaking about the final of Maresca and the club World Cup, Shearer added: “It was a Masterclass from Maresca because PSG went in, their football worked all season and why not? Why should they change something?
“But I think the small tweaks from Maresca, they print high and all those things, and I just think it has worked perfectly for them and he deserves enormous credit, not just for the work he has done in this competition, but for the entire season.
“I don't think someone knew what to expect because you know what is happening at Chelsea, it happened earlier: if you don't win things, you know exactly what happens.
“You are there for a reason and know how it will work. He has done fantastic work, he really has.”
A player who could also leave in the coming weeks is possible Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal striker was the most important man of Maresca last season, but has been sent away twice in recent months and has both Joao Pedro – who has made an excellent start of life as a blue in the US – and Liam Delap arrived at the club.
Now the former Villarreal Forward is linked to a move, where Manchester United monitors his situation while they keep looking for a new No. 9 and suggestions that Chelsea could handle for around £ 50 million.
Shearer admits: “As soon as [Joao] Pedro came in and scored the two goals and delaps that are already there, if there is one person who will be shifted, I think it would be Jackson.
“It would not surprise me if they already offered him to other football clubs and they have asked for them.”