Enzo Maresca Calls For Realism Amid Chelsea's Premier League Title Aspirations

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Enzo Maresca remains cautious about Chelsea's Premier League title chances, even as they closed the gap to two points behind Liverpool. A 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday helped the Blues inch closer after Liverpool's draw with Fulham. Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson scored for Chelsea, but Bryan Mbeumo's late goal for Brentford kept the tension alive.

Maresca insists his team isn't ready for a title fight despite their fifth consecutive league win. He believes there are still issues to address before they can be considered contenders. The late goal conceded against Brentford highlights these concerns. "It's not about how many games we win, it's about being realistic," Maresca told BBC Sport.

Chelsea dominated with 26 shots, eight on target, yet Maresca feels they should have secured the win earlier. "In the first half, we were in control of the game. We could have scored more goals," he added. Despite struggling in the last 10 minutes, he believes they deserved the victory.

Cucurella received a second yellow card post-match for dissent, prompting Maresca to call for more maturity from his players. "I didn't see the second yellow card," he said. "The referee said it was for bad attitude. There are things we can do better." This incident is one of several areas where Maresca sees room for improvement.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank praised his team's performance despite their narrow loss. Having secured just one away point all season, Frank felt his side played well enough to earn a draw. "We played a very good game here," he told BBC Sport. "We were unlucky not to get a draw."

Brentford's Resilience Against Chelsea

Frank noted that Brentford matched Chelsea throughout the match, especially in the second half. "A draw would have been fair," he remarked. He acknowledged Chelsea's quality and confidence but felt his team held their own against a top side.

Reflecting on Chelsea's celebration after the match, Frank felt it showed respect for Brentford's efforts. He believes his team could have easily taken something from the game against such strong opponents.

Chelsea continues to show promise under Maresca, but challenges remain as they aim to solidify their position in the title race. The focus will be on refining their play and addressing discipline issues as they push forward this season.