Dennis Wise believes the signing of Alejandro Garnacho could supercharge Chelsea’s Premier League title tilt under Enzo Maresca.
The Blues have made a strong start to their second season under Maresca, sitting second in the table and one of only three teams still unbeaten.
Chelsea made a strong start in the league last season before a poor stretch of form around the festive period saw them slide down the table.
However, club legend Wise believes that the club’s strong end to the season – winning the Conference League and Club World Cup – as well as their busy summer in the transfer market, has them well-equipped to sustain their title challenge until the bitter end this time around.
‘I’ve got to say, the confidence Chelsea gained from winning the Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League has put them in a strong position to compete,’ he told Sky Bet.
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‘I was out there at the Club World Cup with FIFA, lucky enough to watch some of the games. Early on, I saw Paris Saint-Germain start like a house on fire, and most people expected Chelsea to get battered in the final.
‘But they performed extremely well, and from there, they’ve carried that momentum. Their pre-season was excellent, they’ve started the season strongly, and their recruitment has been smart – not just good signings, but fantastic ones.
‘Expectations are higher now. With the trophies they’ve won, and the money spent, there’s pressure to keep competing and winning.
‘Take Liam Delap – a £20m signing, still young, but already showing he can score in the Premier League. 12 goals for a relegated side is impressive, and his hold-up play is excellent. Chelsea did well to take advantage of his situation. He’s only young.
‘Another one is João Pedro. He scored 30 goals in 70 games for Brighton over two seasons and has already proven he can impact the Premier League.
‘Add in Estevão Willian, just 18, an exciting wide player everyone is eager to watch develop, and you can see the direction the club is going. Chelsea are deliberately targeting young talents, giving them long-term contracts, and backing them to grow – and so far, it looks like a clever strategy.’
Wise was also excited by the signing of Garnacho from Manchester United, with the Argentine arriving at Stamford Bridge in a cut-price deal after he fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim.
Garnacho has yet to play for the club, but Wise believes the 21-year-old could have a pivotal role to play this season if Chelsea can get the best out of the young winger.
‘Alejandro Garnacho is an emotional character, a player who clearly needs to feel wanted,’ he added.
‘Things didn’t always work out for him at Manchester United, but he’s got talent. If the manager can unlock that, he’ll cause plenty of problems for opponents.
‘I’m genuinely excited about the new Chelsea regime and these young signings. The minimum expectation this season has to be a Champions League spot – and hopefully more.
‘Chelsea should be aiming to win at least one domestic trophy and push hard in the Champions League. They’ll want to be real contenders for the league too.
‘Of course, Liverpool, Arsenal, and others have strengthened, so it won’t be easy. But Chelsea’s ambition has always been to compete at the very top.’
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