Revealed: Key Chelsea issue Enzo Maresca must address as Blues launch title charge | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a fantastic start to life as Chelsea manager, guiding the Blues to five consecutive Premier League wins and seven on the bounce across all competitions.

The Italian tactician remains adamant that his side are not ready to compete for the Premier League title, but at the moment, they’re the closest challengers to league leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea sit just two points behind the Reds on the log, although they have played a game more than their Merseyside counterparts.

With four of their next seven games coming against teams in the bottom half of the table, there’s a general feeling that they can close the gap to Liverpool even further.

However, while Chelsea’s impressive form deserves plenty of praise, their recurring disciplinary issues could scupper their chances of going all the way this season.

If the Blues are to sustain their title challenge, Maresca must address the issue head-on.

Marc Cucurella will serve a one-game ban for the second time this season after picking up a second yellow in the 2-1 win against Brentford for a needless altercation with Kevin Schade after the final whistle.

He will miss Sunday’s trip to Everton, marking the latest example of Chelsea’s disciplinary problems.

If Chelsea beat the Toffees, they will go top of the Premier League table temporarily, piling the pressure on Liverpool ahead of their tricky clash against Tottenham Hotspur later in the afternoon.

However, history does not favour the Blues at Everton, with only one win in their last seven league visits.

Losing a key player like Cucurella doesn’t help either, as he has been one of the team’s standout performers under Maresca. But there are several other similar instances.

Cucurella and Wesley Fofana were serving a one-match ban during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Against Brentford, Pedro Neto became the third Chelsea player to miss a game after accumulating yellow cards, but they scraped past their West London rivals, with Noni Madueke stepping up to the task.

The yellow card accumulation resets after 19 Premier League fixtures.

Chelsea have played 16 games, but at least seven players, including Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez (four each), are walking a tightrope (via The Athletic).

The Blues might boast a deep squad, but if they’re going to continue their remarkable upward trajectory, Maresca has to knock some discipline into his players sooner rather than later.