The least productive approach for Chelsea to respond to their dominant victory of Barça would be to succumb to the excitement. The problem is that emotions in the sport fluctuate from one extreme to another, as the individuals running things at Chelsea have quickly come to understand.
They have faced plenty of mockery for their alternative method since taking over the side from the previous owner three years ago, so perhaps they are justified to be a little sceptical now that the team are being commended for their player acquisition plan and hyped as potential title competitors before welcoming Arsenal on Sunday.
Contrary to widespread perception, this is not a management that becomes carried away easily. The initial chaos has subsided – the club have had multiple long-term head coaches since their purchase by Todd Boehly and their partners – and the aim of building a sustainable future-oriented plan is incompatible with overreacting to one poor result, one decent sequence of performances or even one thumping victory over Barça in the Champions League.
The message has not changed since the outset of the term: stay modest. It is important remembering that there was plenty of sceptical talk from external sources when the team were defeated to the Red Devils and Brighton & Hove Albion at the close of September. Was any pundit talking about a league challenge then? Or, actually, after the side let slip a 1-0 advantage and fell at Stamford Bridge to the Black Cats last month? The mood was contrasting. Level minds were essential; the message from the top was that the manager and his squad had to believe themselves after the setback by the Seagulls.
Now, with demanding away matches against the Whites and AFC Bournemouth to come next week, the attention is on ensuring the team are not tricked into satisfaction after that stunning defeat of Barça.
Perhaps that stoic atmosphere will assist the most youthful side in the English football stay level. the Italian, composed to a fault in his media interactions, fits the plan. The team were in a analogous situation this time last year but the Italian frequently insisted they were not in the title contest. He thought it was too premature in their evolution. Maresca received backlash when the side fell away and ended up in a battle for continental entry – had he offered the players an escape route? – but he was in his first campaign as a top-flight coach. He and his team had to learn and develop.
It is a conscious tactic. The manager is not prone to making brave declarations, often stating he is planning no more than the next match. His stance has not been changed by the team rising to number two after several victories from their most recent half-dozen games. It will likely not even alter dramatically if they overcome Arsenal and cut their opponents’ lead to several points.
“Whether we triumph, if we fail to win, I believe it’s too soon,” the coach said on Friday. “We are still in November. It’s incredibly significant in the second month, March, where we are. From there we’ll assess if we can attain something meaningful.”
That was about as near as it comes to an acknowledgment that, indeed, it is possible for the side to challenge their opponents. Yet there is no burden on Maresca to claim the championship this term. The 45-year-old has goals to hit but the leadership will not assess his performance until next summer. They have absolutely no intention to be pushed into sacking a coach during a campaign again. The Blues desire stability and are only just starting out.
They have agreements in position to sign more youth in the transfer windows of the future and later. They were scrutinised for transferring the winger to the Gunners last summer but did so because transferring an experienced top-flight attacker had to be completed to create room for the arriving the Brazilian.
The winger is learning. The 18-year-old winger was brilliant against Barcelona, netting a spectacular finish, but the young talent is doubtful to begin against Arsenal. His playing time is being carefully overseen by Maresca. Chelsea had a disrupted pre-season after progressing all the way in last summer’s Club World Cup. The coach’s frequent rotation is evidence of a coach thinking about the future as well as the present.
Despite the restraint, though, it is also correct that the team are absolutely equipped of defeating their rivals. the playmaker is available after an extended out and ready to feature. the forward is in fine condition in attack, and the enforcer and the playmaker will compete with their opponents’ engine room power.
The manager said overcoming Paris Saint-Germain in that Club World Cup showpiece had benefited his side’s attitude. He values that they are distributing the goals around to a greater extent than the previous campaign, when there was too much leaning on the attacker. A strong reserves will also provide him a variety of methods to challenge the Gunners’ defensive might.
Will it be sufficient? Maybe not at this stage. The Blues at times lack a clinical finish and Levi Colwill’s absence with a extended {