With Chelsea second in the Premier League and coming off a convincing win over Barcelona in the Champions League, questions are being asked about whether they can now be genuine contenders — and whether those inside the club believe they can go all the way.
Sky Sports News’ Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol answers the key questions from inside Chelsea ahead of a potentially season-defining clash with Arsenal, and explains why wonderkid Estevao chose Stamford Bridge.
Was the Barcelona win a sign Chelsea can compete for the Premier League and Champions League?
Chelsea have no expectation of winning the Premier League this season. The club views Arsenal and Manchester City as the title favourites and sees this season as part of a longer-term project: building a squad for the next five to ten years rather than chasing immediate silverware at all costs.
Nobody at Chelsea is getting carried away after beating Barcelona. The result is encouraging but not proof they can sustain a title challenge — beating Arsenal at Stamford Bridge will be a clearer test. Even if they cut the gap to three points, a title run would require an exceptional sequence of results.
In Europe, Chelsea are among roughly 10 elite teams who could win the Champions League in knockout football, but the club sees continental success as part of a longer-term plan rather than an expectation this season. Last season’s Champions League winners (PSG) showed how unpredictable knockout competitions can be, and Chelsea have already had mixed European form this year.
What do the owners expect, and have expectations been raised?
Last season’s objective for head coach Enzo Maresca was to return Chelsea to the Champions League and make the club competitive for trophies. He delivered fourth place and won the Conference League and Club World Cup. This season, a realistic aim is to finish in the top four again, perhaps behind Arsenal and City, while showing progress across the squad.
The owners are ambitious but pragmatic. They demand success and want Chelsea to be among the very best clubs in the world within 5–10 years. That long-term target remains, but short-term progress and improvements are expected year-on-year.
How much pressure has Maresca been under from owners and fans?
Maresca is widely credited with managing the squad expertly this season, rotating carefully after the Club World Cup and making 102 changes to manage workloads. Modern evaluation of head coaches at Chelsea extends beyond trophies to include player development, building a winning culture, and improving assets.
Maresca has not yet been fully embraced by all fans — partly because he followed Mauricio Pochettino and partly because his style marks a change in direction. There was tension earlier in the season, but his emotional celebration after Estevao’s late winner against Liverpool in October helped shift perceptions. He’s on the right track but still has work to do to win widespread affection.
Why did Estevao choose Chelsea?
Chelsea’s recruitment strategy prioritises signing the best young talents early, on long-term, incentive-heavy contracts with modest base wages. Estevao joined because he believed in Chelsea’s project, wanted to play in the Premier League and live in London, and knew he would get opportunities.
Chelsea scouted him for three years and chose him over other young stars such as Endrick. The sale of Noni Madueke to Arsenal opened more pathways for Estevao’s playing time. Chelsea paid Palmeiras an initial £29m and agreed that Estevao could remain in Brazil until the summer before joining.
Who could be the next Estevao, and who finds them?
Chelsea overhauled their football leadership after the 2022 ownership change and now employ five sporting directors whose key task is sourcing tomorrow’s stars. The club continues to target elite youth prospects and has several signings lined up:
– Geovany Quenda, 18, winger from Sporting Lisbon, signed in March for a deal worth up to £40m and due to join in the summer.
– Dastan Satpaev, 17, forward from Kairat Almaty, expected to arrive in London next summer.
– Denner, 17, left back from Corinthians, also due to join around the same time.
– Emanuel Emegha, striker from Strasbourg, set to come in as well.
– Deinner Ordonez, a 16-year-old Ecuadorian centre back from Independiente del Valle, planned to move in January 2028.
Chelsea want not just one or two stars but several top young players across the squad so they aren’t overly reliant on a single prodigy. The recruitment network and sporting directors are central to identifying and signing those players, keeping Chelsea a step ahead of rivals in the market.
In short, Chelsea see recent results as progress rather than a turning point. They are building a deep, long-term squad under Maresca, with a recruitment strategy focused on multiple elite youngsters rather than depending on one standout talent.