'Up there as favourites' - What Arne Slot, Pep Guardiola and rival bosses have said about Chelsea this season

It has already been an impressive season for Chelsea, who have installed themselves as title contenders heading into the new year despite coming into the season with limited expectations in Enzo Maresca’s first year.

Whether the Blues can keep it up for the second half of the season remains to be seen, but as they bid to do just that, we have rounded up what rival managers have said after Premier League clashes with Chelsea this season.

Chelsea 0-2 Man City

Pep Guardiola: “At Stamford Bridge, this would not happen. Let me say this, I see what Enzo wants to do, and I like it. And I don’t just say that because he’s my friend." He added: "I really didn't expect it, I know what these guys can do, but the first day and lack of training. Last season we could not win at Stamford Bridge so this is good news. The bad news is we still have 65, 70 games left. But it is good to start with a win for the confidence.”

Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

Gary O’Neill: "[In the second half] We gave them three goals from nothing really. We gave them one in the first half too. Their second goal came from our own goal kick. The free kick where we don't get back under the ball... these are crazy ways to concede goals.

"Then the fourth and the fifth happened when we had people out of position. We lost our way. It was already a crazy first half. We showed moments of quality but, regardless of what you do with the ball and in your shape, if you give goals away like we did, it was going to be a tough afternoon. We gave Chelsea a lot of help, so there is an awful lot I need to fix."

Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner: “An absolutely positive point with all the circumstances, coming here after two defeats in the Premier League. Just 14 players from our squad were available because of injuries or new players who couldn't play today, and there were four from the Under-21s. Coming here, being one goal down at half-time was deserved, to be honest. But then coming back after one or two adaptions at half-time, with the spirit, with the belief, with the togetherness, I'm really delighted with the performance today.

“The first-half, we didn’t find the opportunities where they are. We had it in the preparation and then we showed them again at half-time that we have to switch the game and find the opposite ten. We had them in the pocket and we didn't find him in the first-half. He was always free but we didn't find him. And also the wing-backs, we know, with Daniel Muñoz, with Tyrick Mitchell, we have runners there always, but we didn't find them, especially on the opposite side and we showed the guys, let's switch.

“We always played into their pressure and then they showed their pace in transition. They scored the goal and we can’t defend anymore. We were in two or three situations a little bit lucky – we had a great goalkeeper [Dean Henderson] today, but you need this to get the point here. In the second-half, we did it much better. We were in very good shape so they didn't find space. We knew they won't always want to play in our pocket, it was once or twice. Then we struggled a little bit, but overall we did a really great job.”

Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea

Andoni Iraola: “For me, the keeper was the difference today, especially with that save from Ryan Christie. And when you play against these keepers, forwards and defenders, you have to be very good, clinical and don’t make mistakes to get a reward. We had a lot today but not enough.”

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

Julen Lopetegui: "It's a bad day, for sure. We lost one match that we had big expectations to compete much better [in]. They have been soft goals that we have suffered [from]. Before the first goal, we had a clear chance with [Mohammed] Kudus but after we have to be more consistent and we cannot accept this action.

"To compete in the Premier League, you have to be more consistent. We had more of the ball than them, but the only stat that is important is that they scored more goals. The third goal was key and, at half-time, we were thinking one goal would be key for us to believe. It is true - we suffered early on in the second half."

Chelsea 4-2 Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler: "We had a good start and controlled the game, had dominance in possession. We scored but afterwards we had too many individual mistakes and with too many individual mistakes you cannot win at Stamford Bridge. We should quickly learn from this. In possession we were good but to win games you need to be good in both phases and we didn't defend well.

"We are still in a process and we have to learn from this quickly. Every time we made a mistake they punished it and punished it quickly. We have to analyse, we have to be honest with each other and be better next time."

He added: "It is still a process and we need a good connection on the pitch and we did not have that connection today. It is my job as a head coach to improve these things. The first half you couldn't change anymore. We were disappointed about conceding that many goals but there were positive things. We tried to create some chances but I think Chelsea defended them quite good.

"In the end I think a bit of luck was not there for us. It was not our day and in the end I think we deserved to lose. We are all together - we win together and we lose together. We need to find a good balance, we can't lose our structure as quickly as we did. We all need to learn something, including me. There are not many players like Cole Palmer in the Premier League, he is special."

Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espirito Santo: “The full game was a very good game with both teams trying. We played and created. The second half was very good for the spectators. We controlled the game well. There is no other way to play against big teams, if you don't unite then it's difficult.

"We blocked the middle of the park and dealt well with one v ones out wide. The game was stretched, we had a good chance and then Chelsea had a good chance. The goalkeepers were great at both ends."

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Arne Slot: “It was one of the games [Liverpool 2-1 win over Chelsea in October], maybe the only game, where I felt the other team was better than us during that game. I’m not there to judge which position they will end in the league table. I have to focus on my own team, but Chelsea have been impressive this season so far, that’s for sure.”

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United

Eddie Howe: “[Cole] Palmer has got that ability to whatever space he has to be able to wriggle out of tight end situations and of course if he has too much space, he will kill you the other way, so we didn’t do with him particularly well in the opening period of the game. [Nicolas] Jackson as well gave us problems but I thought we began to get a grip the longer the game went on.”

Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea

Ruud van Nistelrooy: “Overall it was a very good performance. The players did really well and fought in every inch of the pitch. It was very good to watch that bit. Overall the chances we created, we could have scored one more to win the game. It was a shame we couldn’t. Overall I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t win.”

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster – it’s been almost a full week where so many things happened. My job was to steady the ship. The players reacted very well, something to build on in the next two games. I came here to help the club in any capacity. After these two games that will continue and hopefully, it can work out. It’s special to be back in the city and at the club. I really enjoy every single minute of it. I try to share the culture of the club, the culture of the town, and the fans. That’s an important part. I’m glad I can share these moments and help the players understand the spirit. I saw the spirit on the pitch on Wednesday and today. That’s the foundation to grow.”

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Mikel Arteta: “The disappointment of not getting three points is bigger [than being satisfied] and it will probably be bigger after watching it back. I think we dominated them, we were the better team in many phases and situations in the game and after going ahead, we are very disappointed in the way we conceded. It was so poor. It is not our standards and we don’t accept it. The reaction of the team was unbelievable.”

Leicester City 1-2 Chelsea

Steve Cooper: “You need moments to go for you when you play against teams like Chelsea, when you’re a team like us. It’s about taking our moments and hoping that moments like referees’ decisions (go your way) and games are refereed the right way. Even the penalty that is given is given when he is half a meter away. With this referee we have had a tough season this year.

“I saw it on the screen (in the stadium). It was the first thing I was asked about (after the game), bad decisions. There’s nothing we can do about it now other than maybe officially talking to whoever we need to talk to and hoping that things in general can get to the level we all want them to be to help the game.”

Southampton 1-5 Chelsea

Russell Martin: “I’m really disappointed with the result, but I’m really proud of the players. I thought we started the game so well. At 11v11 I thought we were really good. But then we give away rubbish goals. I think there’s so much evidence for them [the players], in the first half-hour in particular, about the good stuff that they are capable of doing against any opposition. I saw some brilliant stuff tonight. They are fighting and together.”

Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea

Ange Postecoglou: "It's a sore one for sure, it's painful," the Tottenham boss told Sky Sports. "We started the game really well and then we lose Cristian Romero and we had to reshuffle. We still had some big moments to get a third and finish it off. The second half was a ding-dong for long and then they scored. The two penalties weren't great, we need a bit of discipline in the box.

"It's a key point when you lose a key player in the first 20 minutes, He couldn't continue so it's not ideal. We didn't play well in midweek but we did here. They're a top side, you have got to give credit to them. We got distracted in key moments. We need to realise we are tough to stop when we do play our football. The two penalties were poor. When you're playing these top teams, the momentum shifts quickly."

Chelsea 2-1 Brentford

Thomas Frank: “I'm very pleased with the performance. The players gave everything. This is a very good Chelsea team with very good players and they've spent a few quid. Well coached. We created quite a bit of trouble for Chelsea which you could see how much it meant to them. They are right up there as favourites for the title and well deserved.

"I don't think there's one (Chelsea) player left from the first two times we won here/ If you look at the performance today against a top team who will go right to the end of the season and try to win the title, the way they celebrated it was clear they respected us and we could easily have got something."