'I think we are...' - Enzo Maresca verdict on Chelsea's chances of winning Premier League

Despite continuing their impressive play with a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has maintained that the Blues are "not ready" to be regarded as Premier League title contenders. The Blues easily defeated Unai Emery's struggling visitors at home.

After seven minutes, Nicolas Jackson gave Chelsea the lead, and just before halftime, Enzo Fernandez's brilliant half-volley put Chelsea ahead 2-0. The home team might have easily scored a fourth or fifth goal. Late in the game, Cole Palmer scored a brilliant left-footed goal into the top corner to round off the effort. With the victory, Villa dropped to 11th place and Chelsea and Arsenal tied for first place in the standings.

Levi Colwill, the centre-back, played with assurance this week, although Enzo Maresca has always been more circumspect when evaluating his team's goals for the season. Following Sunday's 3-0 victory, Maresca was asked about a possible title challenge and he responded, "I think we are not ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City for many reasons." "Just because we win today then I won't change my idea."

Chelsea's development under Enzo Maresca looks promising 

Maresca was put under pressure to explain why his Chelsea team, which has exactly the same number of points, goals scored, and goals given up as Arsenal, is not competing. "We can attack better, we can defend better. But what we need is you have to live moments to get better."

After spending the past two seasons mostly stuck in mid-table, Chelsea's development under Maresca in his first season as manager has been extremely promising for the supporters at Stamford Bridge. This season, Jackson's goal was his eighth in 13 Premier League outings. As Villa looked worn out following a 0-0 Champions League stalemate against Juventus in the middle of the week, Cole Palmer also increased his total to eight goals and earned his usual assist by setting up Fernandez, who, together with Moisés Caicedo, dominated in midfield.