Can Chelsea navigate their inconsistency and finish in the top four?

Chelsea currently have one more point than at this stage last season and are only six points behind Arsenal with more than a third of the season still to go.

The Blues are second for goals scored (21) and have registered those numbers without creator-in-chief Cole Palmer, who has been dealing with a groin problem.

While they have a squad packed with talent, their attacking has been wildly inconsistent. Fans enter every game week unsure which Chelsea side will emerge.

It might be the dominant one that took down Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, or the lacklustre team that drew 2-2 with Qarabag. 

That inconsistency is a result of the team’s youthful nature. It is expected of them, but manager Enzo Maresca needs to prepare them for the long haul.

Attacking-wise, Chelsea have all the tools to secure a top-four finish. They need them sharpened for consistency to deliver over 38 game weeks.

Chelsea’s main issue is the defence, which is currently preventing them from competing for the title alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once famously said that defence wins you titles, and Chelsea’s current rearguard does not look up to the task.

The Blues have lacked an edge at the back since Levi Colwill picked up a season-ending injury. Maresca has tried various combinations, but they have not yielded the required results. 

Their lack of quality at the back will likely leave them short in the title race, but they should have enough to clinch a Champions League slot.

Maresca’s young side may not yet have the maturity to mount a sustained title charge, but the raw talent, energy, and attacking output suggest a bright future. 

Consistency remains a massive challenge. Despite this, Champions League football should return to Stamford Bridge next season.