Gary Neville believes Chelsea cannot challenge for the Premier League title this season. He insists their current squad has too many weaknesses. They cannot compete with the league’s top teams.

The former Manchester United captain spoke on Sky Sports. This followed Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds United on Wednesday night. Neville questioned Enzo Maresca’s team balance. He highlighted several positions. Neville feels these are far below a title-winning standard.

Neville stated, “I don’t think they can win the title. In fact, I don’t think they’ve got a chance.” He added, “Chelsea does have some gaping holes. You see these when looking at title-winning teams.”

He continued, “Chelsea’s team is well built. It has an incredible amount of talent.” However, he noted, “But the centre-backs tonight were poor in every way.”

“The goalkeeper is not good enough. He cannot be a title-winning goalkeeper,” Neville asserted. He also critiqued the attack. “Their centre-forwards are good players. But they are not at the levels required to win Chelsea a title.”

Neville concluded his assessment. He predicted, “They’ll finish in the top four. But the inconsistencies are still there.”

Leeds Manager Reflects on Victory

This defeat raises questions. It concerns Chelsea’s progress under Enzo Maresca. Expectations were high. This was due to significant summer investment. Their recent Club World Cup triumph also boosted hopes.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke commented on the win. His side earned it by not fearing Chelsea’s international stars. He praised the home crowd’s energy. He also lauded his players’ work rate. Farke described it as one of their best performances this season.

“We were so desperate to bring this club back to the top level,” Farke told the BBC. He added, “Elland Road was back to its best.”

“It was a great shift from my lads. It was a great performance against one of the best sides globally,” Farke said. “They won the [Club] World Cup in the summer. They are a Premier League title contender.”

He emphasized the deserved victory. “To win this game, in this manner, was deserved. This is based on chances, expected goals, shots, and shots on target.”

The result was significant for both teams. It lifted Leeds out of the relegation zone. Chelsea, however, dropped to fourth place in the league standings.