Chelsea will be EPL title contenders next season for sure, says club legend Gianfranco Zola

SINGAPORE – Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca may have repeatedly dismissed his side’s chances of mounting a title tilt in the 2024-25 campaign, but Blues legend Gianfranco Zola has backed them to be contenders next season.

The former Italy international believes that if Maresca’s men continue on their current trajectory, they can challenge the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal next term “for sure”.

Zola, 58, was speaking at lyf Funan Singapore on Dec 1 as part of Chelsea’s international fan engagement programme, The Famous CFC, organised by the club’s official global hotels partner Ascott.

After their 3-0 win over Aston Villa that night, the five-time Premier League champions, who won their last title under Antonio Conte in 2016-17, rose to third in the table, six points behind leaders Liverpool, who faced Manchester City in a later game.

Asked about Chelsea’s title hopes this season, Zola said: “I don’t know if we are title contenders this year. The level of competition is very high, there are teams that are a little bit ahead of us.

“We all know that Manchester City are going through a difficult moment, but (I am) 100 per cent sure that they will be back.

“There are teams like Arsenal, they’ve been performing fantastically well in the last few years and Liverpool, who has been unbelievable this year so far.”

A common theme for these teams is stability, something that Chelsea do not have, following a transfer policy that focuses on signing promising young players.

Since a 2022 takeover fronted by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, they have splashed over £1 billion (S$1.4 billion) on new players, with former loanee Joao Felix the 36th permanent signing under the new regime when he signed in August.

“Don’t forget, we spent a lot of money on the players that we’ve got and many of them are still young and they are getting better and better with this coach,” Zola said.

“So I think this year might be too early, but I hope I’m wrong. I think if we keep progressing the way we’re progressing, next year we will be contenders for sure.”

Commending his compatriot Maresca for doing a “very good job”, Zola added: “He’s giving the team an identity and they’ve maintained that identity since the beginning. You can see they are progressing, the players look very confident.”

A few players have impressed the Stamford Bridge cult hero, who scored 80 goals in 312 games for the club from 1996 to 2003, helping them win trophies such as the FA Cup (twice), Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup.

“One player that didn’t convince me last year, and I didn’t know whether he was the right player for Chelsea, was Moises Caicedo, although he took my (No. 25) shirt,” said Zola with a laugh. 

“This year he has been brilliant, excellent with and without the ball and has probably become one of the most important players for the team.”

Another midfielder, Cole Palmer, also earned praises from Zola.

“Nowadays everyone is talking about Cole Palmer and what he’s doing, this guy, he’s doing amazing things,” he said.

“He’s one of those players who isn’t expected to grow so quickly, but we hope he will bring the club a lot of success and I’m sure he has the credentials to become a big legend.”

Over the weekend, Zola also took part in football clinics, meet-and-greet sessions and interacted with beneficiaries of SportCares and the Singapore Disability Sports Council, and members of Ascott’s Star Rewards loyalty programme.

He is not eyeing another managerial role any time soon. His last managerial stint was with Birmingham City in the second-tier Championship in 2017 and he was assistant to Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri in the 2018-19 season.

He said: “I’ve been in football on the pitch for many years and it has given me so much that I can only thank the system.

“I’ve decided to dedicate more time to my family. I am happy with what I’m doing but whether I’m still going to be a coach, I don’t know. I would rather say that I will watch and serve football in another way.”