'Ruthless' - Ian Wright names Chelsea's biggest problem under 'exciting' Enzo Maresca

Chelsea have enjoyed a fine start to the season, sitting inside the top four heading into the last international break of 2024. The Blues are currently third, and while they are only goal difference ahead of Nottingham Forest in fifth, they will be delighted with their overall performance up to this point.

Most expected it to take months for Enzo Maresca’s men to get settled, with the Italian in his first season in charge. It has typically taken time for managed to settle at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of decades, and more times than not, managers haven’t settled at all.

Maresca has quickly adapted, making bold decisions from the off and standing by them, carving out a settled starting XI and identifying players he can trust across the team. How long Chelsea can maintain their form is another question with just under three quarters of the season still to play.

But if there is one concern, Maresca and the Blues should have, it’s with their defence, according to Arsenal legend turned pundit Ian Wright. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he said: “They are exciting… I like the way the manager has blasted people out. He’s gone, ‘bam’, ruthless. This is what I am doing, I’m going with this and you are starting to see it, especially with Caicedo and Lavia in midfield. The front four look like they could go, it’s just that defence.”

Chelsea’s defensive record

Chelsea have conceded 13 goals so far, which is more or less the going rate for top four teams. Nottingham Forest have conceded three less, but Manchester City have conceded 13 and Arsenal 12. More concerningly, the Blues haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Premier League for six games, and that isn’t top four form, with clean sheets crucial as the season goes on and as the front line goes through dry patches.

Maresca has admitted himself when speaking back in September: “It’s [keeping clean sheets] important because if we don’t concede it means we have more chance to win in case you score. It’s also important the feeling we have. We conceded two goals against Man City, but we didn’t concede many chances – and City are a team that in every game have a big amount of chances and goals.

“Against Wolves, we conceded two goals but in the second half we didn’t concede a shot. Defensively we can improve many things, but we are heading in the right direction. That doesn’t mean that in every game we’re not going to concede, that isn’t real. For sure we will concede, but it’s important we improve the concept between the whole team and that when we talk about the defensive line, we are not only talking about the defensive players.

“I said after West Ham, the best players defending were Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson with how they started the high press which gave us a chance to manage the situation better. So it’s about all of the team.”

The Blues have a pretty settled back line with Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill now the regular centre-backs, while Marc Cucurella is starting on the left, and one of Reece James and Malo Gusto are starting on the right, with the former likely to dominate that starting spot when fully fit. Maresca’s men haven’t exactly conceded at will over recent weeks, even when playing some good teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United, but as Maresca points out, clean sheets will be vital to their potential success.