For a club that has enjoyed as much silverware as Chelsea over the past couple of decades, ambitions and even expectations are generally quite high. However, there is an understanding that a return to former glories cannot come overnight, especially given how far the Blues had fallen after their 12th place finish in 2022/23.
Since that disappointing season, Chelsea have begun their recovery and appear to be heading in the right direction, albeit at a measured pace. In 2023/24, they finished sixth, while last year they secured a fourth-place finish, coupled with a Conference League trophy.
For this season to be considered a success, Chelsea would need to show further improvement on last year. Performance in the league will largely shape that judgment, but silverware, especially in Europe, can also make a significant difference.
League Performance Most Important
Fighting our way back.#CFC | #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/1BsA3sA4iy
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 20, 2025
The thing that Enzo Maresca will be judged on more than anything is his record in the Premier League. Last year, his goal was to finish in the top five and secure Champions League football. This year, it is more of the same with a view to closing the gap on the leading clubs and/or collecting more points.
In 2024/25, the Blues finished 15 points behind champions Liverpool, but this gap was artificially low. Liverpool wrapped up the title with weeks to spare, allowing them to take their foot of the gas. Had they needed more points, it is easy to think that they would have finished 20+ points ahead of Chelsea. That campaign saw Chelsea finish on 69 points, a rate of 1.82 points per game.
Meanwhile, this season, Chelsea are averaging 1.71 points per game, a rate that would see them end on 65 points, four fewer than last year. This would be a disappointment as Maresca wants to be able to show that the Blues are getting better and strengthening their title credentials. To finish with fewer points and even further behind the top club means the domestic campaign would feel a bit underwhelming.
Predicted Champions League Positions
It would only be considered a major failure, however, should the Londoners fail to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. Failure to finish in the top four or more probably five would surely put Maresca under serious pressure, as it would represent a significant regression. Fortunately for the Italian, a top four/five finish seems likely given some of the expected challengers like Man Utd, Newcastle and Tottenham have all failed to impress this year.
| Position | Team | Points | Bookies’ Top 4 Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Aston Villa | 36 | 10/11 |
| 4th | Chelsea | 29 | 10/11 |
| 5th | Liverpool | 29 | 1/2 |
| 6th | Sunderland | 27 | 33/1 |
| 7th | Man Utd | 26 | 7/2 |
| 8th | Crystal Palace | 26 | 11/1 |
*Odds accurate at time of writing
Top four could be a challenge if Villa maintain their excellent form, but based on current coefficients, it is very likely that England will enjoy five Champions League places through league performance.
- Minimum Target: Top five
- Clear success: Top four & 70+ points
European Run Can Play a Big Role
Chelsea fans would be happy enough to see their team lift an FA or League Cup, but neither could fully mask a poor league season. A long run in the Champions League is a little different, however. If the Blues could reach the final stage or two of the competition, it would help re-establish their European pedigree and give them confidence for future editions.
The Blues are currently priced at 18/1 to win the continent’s elite club competition, with seven clubs more fancied than them. There is zero feeling the Blues should go all the way in the Champions League, but this does not mean Maresca has a free pass in the tournament. A side like Chelsea ought to be making it out of the league phase, unless the play-off draw (if they are involved) is incredibly unkind to them.
- Minimum Target: Knockout stages
- Clear success: Semi-finals
Domestic Trophies
The Premier League and Champions League are Maresca’s top priorities this year, but this is not to say he should give no care to the League or FA Cup. In the former, the Blues are only a two-legged clash away from the final. In the FA Cup, meanwhile, they received a decent initial draw, away to follow London side Charlton. Chelsea last won a domestic cup in 2018, and have lost six finals since, so nothing short of ending this unfortunate run would be considered a success.
- Minimum Target: No embarrassing elimination
- Clear success: An FA Cup or League Cup win
A Reminder of Chelsea’s Youth
It is important to remember just how young this Chelsea side is. This Premier League season, there have been 36 instances of a club fielding a starting XI with an average age of 25 or under – Chelsea are responsible for 15 of these. It is safe to assume that this young squad will get better with time, so Maresca should not be judged too harshly if he fails to meet any of the ‘success’ measures this season, provided he manages the minimum targets. Next year is when you can rightly expect more from the Blues as their young squad begins to mature.