Enzo Maresca discusses why Chelsea are “not yet prepared” to compete for the Premier League title.

Enzo Maresca stated that Chelsea are “not ready” to challenge for the Premier League title, despite reducing Liverpool’s lead at the top to just two points. The Blues’ head coach emphasized that, while Chelsea have won seven consecutive matches in all competitions, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Maresca expressed frustration that Chelsea conceded a goal in the final minute, as well as Marc Cucurella’s red card after the match following an incident with Brentford’s Kevin Schade. He explained, “No matter how many games we win, I don’t think we’re ready to compete for the title. A team that knows how to win titles wouldn’t concede the kinds of goals we do.”

Although Chelsea’s defense is among the best in the league, Maresca acknowledged there is still room to improve, particularly in finishing games with a clean sheet.

Regarding Cucurella’s dismissal, Maresca mentioned he did not witness the incident but was told by the referee that the second yellow card was for “bad attitude.” He also noted that while Chelsea created chances and could have scored more, they deserved the win.

Since May, Chelsea have scored more goals (51), won more games (15), and earned more points (49) than any other team in the league, and they are 15 points ahead of where they were at this time last season.

Striker Nicolas Jackson, who scored Chelsea’s second goal, downplayed the significance of the table, focusing instead on winning each game and gaining experience. “We’re getting to know each other better, and I’m gaining more confidence,” he said.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank believed his team deserved a point, praising their performance, especially in the second half. He felt a draw would have been a fair result, acknowledging Chelsea as a well-coached, title-contending team.