Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes the club is still some distance from being a fully realized team and currently lacks the necessary quality to challenge for the Premier League title this season. Despite a significant summer of investment and the arrival of new manager Enzo Maresca, Hasselbaink remains cautious about the team’s immediate title prospects.
Chelsea’s Mixed Start and Defensive Concerns
The 2026/27 season began with a promising 3-2 victory over Fulham, showcasing an attacking flair with goals from Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, and Cole Palmer. However, the win was marred by defensive frailties, particularly from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was perceived to be at fault for both of Fulham’s goals at Craven Cottage. This performance has amplified existing questions about the team’s defensive solidity and the reliability of their goalkeeper.
Hasselbaink acknowledged the importance of the three points and praised moments of brilliance from Chelsea. “The three points were important and there were moments when Chelsea were magnificent and played really well,” he commented. “But there were also moments where you thought, ‘Oh!’, and that you need to get out and you need to get it out ASAP.” He emphasized the need for clean sheets, stating, “If Chelsea can have a lot of clean sheets in their games then they will have a chance.”
Goalkeeper Consistency Under Scrutiny
Addressing Robert Sanchez’s performance, Hasselbaink noted the goalkeeper’s inconsistency. “He has had brilliant matches… brilliant, brilliant, brilliant matches,” Hasselbaink conceded, referencing specific standout performances. “But he has also had some moments where it’s not been that great. Consistency… the best goalkeepers are consistent, they’re consistent, consistent, consistent.”
He added, “He needs to find consistency. Will he be able to get that? I don’t know but he needs to find consistency. That goal that went in, the first goal from Fulham, he would be the first one to say that’s not good enough.” Reports have emerged suggesting Chelsea are exploring a late transfer for Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, a move Hasselbaink suggested could be a title-deciding factor if financial resources allow.
When asked directly if Chelsea could win the title with Sanchez in goal, Hasselbaink replied, “If they do then he will have to improve a lot more than he has shown in the first match.”
Arsenal Identified as Strongest Contenders
While Hasselbaink anticipates Chelsea finishing above rivals such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool, largely due to their absence from European competitions, he firmly believes Arsenal are the team to beat. He considers the Gunners to be significantly stronger, more mature, and further along in their development.
“Of course they’re going to challenge but they will not win it,” Hasselbaink stated regarding Chelsea’s title aspirations. “Arsenal are way stronger, way further ahead mentally and also way more mature. Arsenal are also so much further in their journey, so much more consistent.”
He elaborated on Chelsea’s current standing: “Chelsea have a new manager, new idea, playing with five at the back. They played really well on Monday but they’re definitely not the finished article. There are still a lot of things to do. It’s very positive but I don’t think that Chelsea is ready yet to become champions. I do think that they will be better than Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool this year, but that is because they play from Saturday to Saturday.”
Looking Ahead for Chelsea
Following their opening-day victory, Chelsea are set to compete in the Carabao Cup against Luton Town before returning to Premier League action at home against Brighton. The team’s ability to address defensive vulnerabilities and achieve greater goalkeeping consistency will be crucial factors in determining their success throughout the 2026/27 campaign. While optimism surrounds the club, Hasselbaink’s assessment suggests that a true title challenge may be a longer-term goal rather than an immediate prospect.
