October 1st 2024.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea team has had a strong start to the Premier League this season, currently sitting in fourth place after six matches. This has caught the attention of former Chelsea player and manager, Frank Lampard, who believes that the club is in a good position to once again challenge for a top-four spot.
It's been a time of significant change at Chelsea in recent years, with new ownership, multiple managerial changes, and a squad overhaul. This has created a sense of instability within the club, which was reflected in their results on the pitch. Last season, under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea finished in a disappointing sixth place, following a dismal 2022/23 campaign where they finished in 12th.
But there is a renewed sense of optimism among the Stamford Bridge faithful, as they see their team performing well at the start of this season. Under Maresca's leadership, Chelsea is currently sitting in fourth place in the table. A standout player for them has been Cole Palmer, who recently made history by scoring four goals in the first half of a match against Brighton.
Lampard, who had a successful playing career at Chelsea before managing the team twice, is encouraged by the team's performance and believes that they are on the right track. "They're young, that's a fact, and with a young team, it's not always easy to have great consistency," Lampard said in an interview with TNT Sports Mexico. "Maybe it's not always easy to win things with young players, but it's a strategy that Chelsea has taken."
He further added, "At the moment, and with the start of the season they've had, it feels like they are going in the right direction. There is a lot of young talent, especially in the forward areas. They have a lot of options to change things up in-game and keep things fresh."
After going through a period of transition and experiencing difficulties, Lampard believes that Chelsea is now in a good position to compete for a top-four spot once again. "After two or three years of being in a transition and a difficult time, with a change of ownership, managers, and players, it's understandable that they haven't been able to compete," he explained. "But now, I do feel that they are in a good position to challenge for the top four, to be where Chelsea expects to be."
When asked about the main contenders to break Manchester City's dominance in the Premier League, Lampard pointed to Arsenal and Liverpool. "Arsenal brought in a lot of players, and their squad is really strong in all areas," he said. "They have a lot of options and can rotate players easily. They've come close to beating City in the last two seasons, so they are definitely in the conversation to compete with them."
As for Liverpool, Lampard believes that their recent change in management might make things more difficult for them. "Jurgen Klopp was so distinct in his style, so the change might be challenging for them," he said. "But they still have a really good squad, and the new manager has started well."
However, Lampard also mentioned that there could be surprises in the Premier League, with teams like Aston Villa, Brighton, and Newcastle all improving and strengthening their squads. "The beauty of the Premier League is that there are always surprises," he said. "Teams like Aston Villa have shown this in the last few seasons with their progress."
As Chelsea continues to make strides under Maresca's leadership, fans can expect more exciting performances and a strong fight for a top-four spot in the Premier League.
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