'I like it' - What Pep Guardiola, Andoni Iraola and rival managers have said about Chelsea so far this season

Chelsea have enjoyed a strong start to the season, heading into the international break within three points of Manchester City and Arsenal in second and third place despite drawing with Nottingham Forest last time out. The Blues didn’t expect to hit the ground running under Enzo Maresca, but they have quickly become one of the most dangerous attacks in the Premier League.

Maresca’s men are now strong candidates for Champions League qualification, albeit it is still very early, and they will want to maintain their momentum after the break. Here we take a look at what opposition managers have said after games against Chelsea so far 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."