Enzo Maresca says Chelsea aren't Premier League title contenders after Ipswich Town defeat - 'We are far from competing'

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Despite a noisy summer transfer window, Chelsea have impressed fans and pundits with their performances this season. Enzo Maresca's side have even been called title contenders by some commentators, but the Italian believes his team's 2-0 defeat against Ipswich Town proves they still have a long way to go if they want to start challenging at the top of the table once again.

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Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea's 2-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town proves they are not ready to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Chelsea have made a strong start to the Premier League season, despite another busy summer in the transfer window.

However, goals from Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson condemned Maresca's side to their fourth defeat of the campaign at Portman Road.

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Chelsea's status as title contenders has been a topic of debate for months, but Maresca believes the loss proves they still have a lot to learn.

"We expected this kind of moment during the season because we know that this kind of moment belongs to football," he told Sky Sports.

"It is almost impossible to have a season where you do not have a moment like now for us.

"But at the same time, not one of us in this room expected us to be where we are now.

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"This means and shows that we are in the right direction, as I've said many times, but also shows that we are far from competing and consistency and being there with the best teams in England.

"Again, I think we have to be satisfied with where we are, but at the same time, we have to know we need to do many things better."

The result leaves Chelsea in fourth place, while the Tractor Boys will end 2024 in 18th, a point off safety.

The victory was an excellent end to a great year for Ipswich, and manager Kieran McKenna believes their third win of the season was the crowning achievement of a historic 12 months.

"In the last game of 2024 against Chelsea is pretty special," he told BBC Sport.

"It is our best achievement."

Liam Delap of Ipswich Town celebrates scoring his team's first goal from a penalty kick during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Chelsea FC.

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McKenna believes everyone at the club should be proud after winning promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years in 2024.

"Incredible year," he added in an interview with Sky Sports.

"Everyone involved with Ipswich can probably enjoy a glass of sparkly stuff tomorrow night and think about some of the games we've had and moments over the last couple of years.

"I don't want to point backwards too much, but I think six of the starting line-up today were in our League One team, so it's the journey this group has been on.

"When you have moments like this, you have a little pause and enjoy it, but then move on to the next one."

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