'Chelsea better stop dreaming about winning the Premier League'

Joe Cole frankly stated that Chelsea is not yet strong enough to compete for the Premier League title and must accept the reality that Arsenal is playing at a much higher level.

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has urged The Blues fans to “be realistic” when discussing their chances of winning the Premier League with his old club. Although under coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have made progress in their playing style and spirit, Cole believes the current squad is still too weak compared to their direct rivals Arsenal.

Speaking ahead of the London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham, Cole said: “This season, expectations for Chelsea were to easily secure a Champions League spot and challenge in the league. But I don’t think the current squad is strong enough to compete with Arsenal. I’m willing to say clearly they won’t win the title now. Chelsea hasn’t reached that level yet and they are still too inconsistent.”

After beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final, fans hoped Maresca’s team could compete for trophies on all fronts. However, the harsh truth is The Blues trail Arsenal by eight points after nine rounds, having suffered three defeats, including two at Stamford Bridge. “Stability is simply something Chelsea lacks,” Cole added.

According to Joe Cole, Chelsea’s biggest weakness lies in a lack of squad depth and positions that have not been properly strengthened. “They need a more reliable goalkeeper, a commanding center-back, and a striker who can score over 20 goals per season. That’s the foundation a champion team must have, but Chelsea doesn’t yet.”

In reality, these positions were requested for improvement during the summer transfer window, but the management has yet to take decisive action. This has led fans to doubt the vision of the rebuilding project.

Cole also emphasized that Chelsea currently “envies” what Arsenal have achieved under Mikel Arteta. “Over the past four years, Chelsea fans have been patient with the youth development project, but now they see Arsenal, after six years with Arteta, reaping rewards. They look at Arsenal with envy, and that is worrying.”

The 42-year-old former star believes Chelsea should focus on a more realistic goal this season: securing a Champions League spot and building a solid foundation for the future. “Chelsea needs to be stable in the Champions League and close the gap to the top compared to last season. If they achieve that, it will be a successful season. Next season, they can start thinking about winning trophies.”

Joe Cole’s message is a warning to those still dreaming of an immediate title: Chelsea is on the way back, but to reach Arsenal’s level, they need time, experience, and the right players to build a truly strong team.

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