“For a team with a top class attacking force, sadly they are lacking defensively and they are 2 players that are the main reason for this” – Ian Wright identifies a key weakness that he believes is preventing Chelsea from mounting an immediate challenge for trophies. He suggests that this particular shortcoming could be the main factor slowing their progress toward title contention, despite their talented squad and investment.

Jamie Carragher is one of the pundits acknowledging that Enzo Maresca has turned things around at Chelsea faster than expected.

While some improvement was anticipated this season as the team moved on from past turbulence, few thought Chelsea would already be near the top of the table by November. Speaking on the *Stick to Football* podcast, Ian Wright joined Carragher in commending Chelsea’s progress but pointed out one lingering weakness:

“They’re exciting… I like how the manager has been decisive. He’s been ruthless with his choices—he’s decided on his approach, especially with Caicedo and Lavia in midfield. The front four look ready, but the defense still has gaps,” Wright observed.

Addressing this defensive fragility could elevate Chelsea to trophy contention this season. Many fans would agree with Wright’s assessment, though the issue goes beyond individual mistakes or simply blaming Robert Sanchez.

While key defenders like Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana have faced challenges, Chelsea also struggles with structural defensive issues, such as the offside trap.

This analysis offers hope: by fine-tuning the midfield and attack to bolster defensive stability, Chelsea could come close to achieving a balance that allows them to compete for silverware immediately—not just next season but potentially this one.