The new Premier League season brings with it plenty of hype and anticipation. For Chelsea, new manager Enzo Maresca simply has to get things right in order to become a mainstay at Stamford Bridge, but his first trip on the road against Wolverhampton Wanderers is far from an easy task.
Many had tipped Gary O’Neil’s side to face the drop last term, but the resilience he instilled in his Bournemouth side the year prior once again came to the rescue, with Wolves finishing relatively comfortably in 14th, albeit with Everton suffering points deductions.
Molineux can become a fortress this season, and Chelsea know they will have to work hard in order to get all three points in a notoriously tough away fixture.
The Blues arrive as the favourites in this one, and some of their new signings have been tipped for goals – many having boosted odds across the best free bets in the UK as they look to begin life at Chelsea in style.
In this article, we assess both team’s chances as well as the players that will make the difference in this Premier League Gameweek two clash.
Another New Era for Chelsea
Maresca arrives at Chelsea knowing he will be the fifth permanent manager since Todd Boehly took over the club in 2022.
The American has instilled a ruthless nature when it comes to sacking managers, but while this method proved success for Roman Abramovic when he became the Blues owner in 2003, adopting the same approach doesn’t always guarantee success.
Despite spending over £500 million on players, defeat to Liverpool in last season’s EFL Cup ensured that Chelsea lost their seventh consecutive major cup final. You’d have to go back to February 2022 – when Thomas Tuchel’s side lifted the Club World Cup – for the last time that the Blues added silverware to the Stamford Bridge cabinet, and not many know what to expect from Maresca.
The Italian is relatively inexperienced, although he did win the Championship with Leicester City last season. An assistant to Pep Guardiola during Manchester City’s treble winning season, it will be interesting to see if his possession based football can be replicated at a much higher level – with Molineux a hunting ground for Wolves to scalp some of the biggest teams in the division.
Over the years, City, Liverpool and Manchester United have fallen victim to the bear pit atmosphere in the Black Country, and Maresca will need his new signings to step and take accountability.
Chelsea are focusing on building a younger squad while also taking advantage of opportunities in the free transfer market.
Tosin Adarabioyo joins the team on a free transfer from Fulham, while Maresca brings in a a familiar Premier League talent, signing Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester for £30 million.
The Blues have further strengthened their ranks with the additions of Omari Kellyman for £19 million and Guiu for £5 million, and their main summer signing is former Wolves man Pedro Neto.
Can Wolves Pull Off an Upset?
The departure of Neto is one of the key talking points around this game. The Portuguese international has struggled with injuries but is undoubtedly one of the most talented wingers in the league on his day.
He left Wolves for a fee of up to £60 million this summer, signing at Stamford Bridge on a lucrative seven-year deal.
‘I feel really grateful to have joined this club,’ said the 24-year-old. ‘I have worked really hard in my career to be here and I’m looking forward to getting on the pitch with this shirt.’
Despite what is a significant loss, O’Neil still has plenty of quality at his disposal, and hasn’t ruled out signing anyone else in the transfer market. After enjoying survival last season with relative ease, now could be the time to kick on.
Hwang Hee-chan has shown he can score goals after a relatively modest start to his Premier League career. The South Korean forward has demonstrated his effectiveness in the final third, consistently working hard on the pitch, and has earned the admiration of the Wolves supporters.
Nelson Semedo’s development has also been noteworthy. Over time, he has established himself as one of the more reliable full-backs – not bad considering many were questioning the former Barcelona man’s talent.
In midfield, captain Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes are two players who have garnered considerable attention within Wolves’ camp. Their potential is evident, and both are poised to become valuable assets for the club, likely yielding significant returns in the coming years.
If Wolves can pick up a first win at home, they stand in good stead to enjoy another season in the Premier League, approaching a decade since their 2018 promotion from the Championship under now Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Final Verdict
Overall, it is tough to make a prediction for the game. Chelsea have a superior squad but have lacked consistently throughout the last two seasons and have been notorious for making slow starts. However, Maresca will be drilling hard work into his players and not allowing bad habits to slip in – the perfect remedy for a squad that lacks discipline, and it would be fitting for Neto to grab the winner against his old side.
Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Chelsea