DAILY MAIL 🔵 Are Chelsea genuine title contenders? Here’s why Enzo Maresca won’t say the ‘T-word’, what Blues insiders make of his comments and the key factors working against them

We occasionally try to coax title talk out of Chelsea. Of course we do.

The regulars at Enzo Maresca’s press conferences may not ask him it weekly, because by now we know exactly what his answer will be and the look he is liable to flash back at you, but every so often, someone new will give it a go.

Hi Enzo. Hope you’re well. I wanted to ask, are Chelsea in the title race and can you win it?

The latest attempt arrived on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. It was as good a time as any to try, given how they had held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw despite playing most of the match with 10 men and, not only that, it was their beating heart in Moises Caicedo who had been dismissed.

Does your performance today not prove you are challengers to Arsenal and Co?

Beginning his answer with an apology for being boringly repetitive, Maresca told us Chelsea are not title contenders. He insisted it is too early for such talk, especially in this season. It is only November, December, he said. Ask again in February, March, he requested.

So the Magic 8 Ball was given a shake, and not for the first time, it came up ‘ask again later’.

But Maresca will not have his knuckles rapped by those above him for his stance – because they agree with him. Just as actors will not say ‘Macbeth’ in theatres for fear it will bring a hex upon their heads, neither will you find anyone associated with Chelsea mentioning the T-word currently.

Midway through last season, there was some surprise when Maresca claimed Chelsea’s owners had not set him the target of finishing in the top four. This is different.

Anyone who declares themselves in the title race at this tender stage of the season is mistaken. Unless you then win the whole thing, there is little to be gained in saying you are going to ‘go for it’.

Rather, Chelsea want to continue as they are and see where it takes them. Their primary target is finishing in the Premier League’s top four. Where that leaves them, they’ll see.

If they are still breathing down the necks of Arsenal and Manchester City come February, Maresca may change his tune. Until then, it’s: ‘you’re saying that, we’re not thinking that, next question’.

Chelsea insiders see Arsenal and City as the favourites this season, and it is hard to disagree. Arsenal added depth to their squad in the summer, which you need to compete, and have come second in each of the last three seasons.

City have Erling Haaland, who can make a difference as much as any individual, and have been there, done that, winning six titles since 2017 under Pep Guardiola.

Daily Mail Sport posted a poll on social media yesterday, asking: ‘Do you think Chelsea are genuine title contenders this season?’ After 1,000 votes, it was 50-50 exactly. A few hundred votes later, it was 49.5 per cent in the ‘yes’ pile, and 50.5 per cent in the ‘no’.

The supporters are split, and me? Having thought on it, I’d have to side with ‘no’ for now. They’re on their way towards it, that I believe, but this season feels too soon.

They are the youngest side in Premier League history. They are a team still learning to play together after Chelsea chose to rip up their attack in the summer and redo it, which is not the norm after finishing fourth.

They have a 45-year-old head coach who, while clearly a talented tactician, will freely tell you he is still learning.

They have shown some naivety, including in the four red cards they have received in the Premier League this season. At the current rate, they would break Sunderland and QPR’s record of nine in a campaign.

They do not have their own goalscoring killer in Haaland, as they are thinking long-term rather than going all-in for that one proven player.

There is nothing wrong with that, but signing starlets means patience is a must. They have shown they can compete with Arsenal and Barcelona in those glamorous games, but then there are those iffy days, the defeat by Sunderland and draw with Qarabag.

Chelsea have Leeds, Bournemouth and Everton next in the Premier League and, while they look like wins on paper, there remains question marks over how they handle those occasions as favourites.

Chelsea have plenty going for them. The way they handled not having Cole Palmer – winning 10 of their 13 games when he was injured – was encouraging.

He is now back, and Maresca has been rotating all season in preparation for the deluge of fixtures to follow, using the depth at his disposal.

They are getting addicted to that winning feeling after the summer’s Club World Cup success.

For now, it does not feel enough to be crowned the best side in England after 38 games, but hey, try asking me again in February or March.