Can Maresca Guide Chelsea to the Top 4 This Season?

There’s no shortage of debate around Chelsea’s prospects this campaign. Under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, the club appears to be inching closer to a return to Champions League football. Yet doubts remain. 

Can this Chelsea, with their mix of emerging talents and lingering defensive issues, truly secure a top‐four finish in one of the most fiercely contested leagues in world football?

A Tactical Revolution Under Maresca

When Maresca took charge on 1 July 2024, the expectations were high, but the situation was precarious. 

Early results were mixed, but as the season has progressed, a clearer tactical blueprint has emerged. Maresca’s approach is built around fluidity and adaptability, which sees Chelsea morph between formations depending on the game’s demands. 

In recent matches, the Blues have frequently shifted from a traditional 4‑2‑3‑1 to a more dynamic 3‑2‑4‑1 during phases of possession, allowing one of the fullbacks to tuck into midfield and create overloads in central areas. 

This flexibility is key to unlocking stubborn opposition defenses, and it has seen players like Cole Palmer assume an increasingly creative role as the team’s advanced playmaker.

In the last games, tactical nuances have been evident. For instance, Maresca’s decision to experiment with substitutions was pivotal in the West Ham encounter on 3 February, a match where Chelsea edged out a 2‑1 victory. 

Bringing on Pedro Neto not only added fresh energy but also allowed the team to shift their shape mid-game, compensating for earlier defensive lapses. 

Similarly, against Wolverhampton and Bournemouth, Maresca has shown a willingness to tweak player roles, enabling rapid transitions and quick counter-pressing that have turned games on their head.

The Strengths: Depth and Dynamism in Attack

Chelsea’s attacking potential has been one of their shining attributes this season. Cole Palmer has emerged as a genuine talisman, registering numerous goal contributions that belie his relative inexperience in such a central role. 

His vision and incisive passing have opened up spaces for wingers like Noni Madueke and even provided the impetus for substitutes like Pedro Neto to make their mark. In a match against Bournemouth on 14 January that ended in a 2‑2 draw, Palmer’s ability to find pockets of space behind the opposition’s midfield was on full display. 

His performances suggest that if he continues to receive the support he so clearly thrives on, Chelsea’s front line could be among the most potent in the league.

Furthermore, the team’s versatility in attack has grown. Maresca’s rotations, often involving the likes of Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández, mean that Chelsea no longer relies on a single attacking outlet.

Instead, multiple players are capable of making dangerous runs into the box, a fact underscored by a recent 5‑1 triumph over Southampton where goals came from an array of sources. This collective threat has not only boosted morale among the fans but also instilled a belief within the dressing room that the title race might be within reach.

The Defensive Question Mark

Yet for all the promise in attack, Chelsea’s defensive organization still raises concerns. While Maresca has implemented a high press and quick transition system, there have been instances when a high defensive line has left gaps at the back.

In games where the opposition has exploited these spaces, most notably during a 1‑3 defeat at Manchester City on 25 January 2025, defensive frailties were laid bare. The reliance on individual brilliance from defenders like Levi Colwill and Robert Sánchez can only go so far; if the team is to secure a top‐four finish, it must tighten up consistently at the back.

The tactical challenge for Maresca is to balance the adventurous nature of his attacking play with a solidity that prevents costly errors.

Moreover, the system’s dependence on specific profiles means that if key players are tightly marked or go off form, Chelsea’s whole structure can be compromised.

The defensive midfield, in particular, must function as the engine room of this tactical approach, and any lapses here could expose the back line to quick counter-attacks – a vulnerability that opposition managers are undoubtedly keen to exploit.

Can Chelsea Finish in the Top 4?

So, what does all this mean for Chelsea’s top‐four aspirations? The answer isn’t straightforward. On one hand, Maresca’s tactical innovations have injected a new sense of purpose and dynamism into the squad. 

The team’s recent results, a blend of impressive attacking displays and gritty performances in transition, suggest that there is genuine potential to challenge for the coveted Champions League spots. Their attacking depth, combined with an increasingly confident approach to pressing and counter-attacking, positions them well against most mid-table opponents.

On the other hand, the defensive vulnerabilities and the sometimes overly reliant nature of the system leave room for doubt. In the Premier League, even a few defensive lapses can be the difference between a win and a loss, and the margin for error at the very top of the table is razor-thin.

The consistency of performance over the remainder of the season will be crucial. If Chelsea can shore up their defensive issues while maintaining the creative spark in attack, they could well be in the running for a top‐four finish. 

Otherwise, they risk being edged out by the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, or even a resurgent Manchester City.

Calculated Optimism

In my view, Chelsea’s chances hinge on one key factor: adaptability. Maresca has shown a willingness to adjust his tactics mid-game, and this flexibility may prove to be the club’s secret weapon.

In matches where he has successfully altered the formation to counteract specific threats, the result has often been a positive turnaround. If he can translate that in-game adaptability into a consistent season-long strategy, particularly by reinforcing the defense without sacrificing the attacking fluidity, the Blues have every chance of finishing in the top four.

It’s a tall order in a league as competitive as the Premier League. Yet, the very unpredictability of this season might just work in Chelsea’s favor. With every game presenting a new set of challenges and opportunities, the title race remains wide open, and a club that can evolve its tactics on the fly might be the one that emerges victorious. 

In a sense, Chelsea is playing chess on a football pitch, each move by Maresca is a calculated risk, and only time will tell if his strategy will checkmate the competition.

Final Thoughts

To answer the question: Yes, Chelsea can finish in the top four this season, but only if they continue to refine their approach, plug defensive gaps, and leverage the attacking talents that have already given fans plenty to cheer about. 

There’s a blend of cautious optimism and realistic scrutiny that must define their path forward. Maresca’s vision is promising, and if his tactical experiments yield consistent results, we might just witness a resurgence of Chelsea’s former glory in European competition.

For now, the season is still unfolding, and every match is another move in a high-stakes game of chess. The fans can dare to dream, but as always in football, nothing is ever guaranteed.