Enzo Maresca has admitted December is a crunch month that will play a major role in determining whether Chelsea are Premier League title contenders this season.
The Chelsea head coach has so far been unwilling to enter into talk about his side being part of a title race, despite the Blues sitting third in the league and just six points off leaders Arsenal with more than a third of the campaign gone.
Chelsea were second until Boxing Day last season - Maresca’s first season in charge, after which they lost to Fulham and drifted down the table. It took a strong end to the season for them to scrape a Champions League place with victory at Nottingham Forest on the final day.
Wednesday’s away game against Leeds United at Elland Road is the first of eight matches in December across all competitions for Chelsea, who have historically tended to drop points in the final month of the calendar year.
“I was here last year,” Maresca said. “The first game I think we lost was [Boxing Day] against Fulham at home. [After] Fulham, we started to drop some points.
“But not only for Chelsea, I think it's [a] complicated [month] for any team, especially for the ones that could also have European competition because you play every three days.
“But the teams that are able to be consistent in December, in January, are the teams that go in for [it] very much. They're going to be there for the title.”
The Italian added: “That's why now the main focus is trying to be consistent in the next month. And then after that, if we are there [near the top], we want to be there and we compete in case we're going to set different targets.”
Maresca was also asked the real reason behind not wanting to entertain talk of Chelsea as potential title challengers.
“We are in December,” he explained. “If, in February or March, we are where we are now, we are going to be title contenders. But if in February or March we are not there, [we are not]. So for me it’s too early.
“From [Leeds] on, we have eight games just in December. In January we have eight games. So they are the two months that are more complicated.
“If we are able to survive and be there in February or March, for sure we’re going to be there [among the contenders]. But now, I don’t know where we’re going to be in February.”
Chelsea have not finished in the Premier League top three since 2022 and last won the league title under Antonio Conte since 2017.
