Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes bold Chelsea title claim after Fulham win | Football

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Chelsea are still some way from the ‘finished article’ and lack the quality to win the Premier League title this season.

Both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior came and went as the Blues endured a turbulent campaign last term, culminating in a desperately disappointing tenth-placed finish.

But there is a renewed sense of optimism amongst the fanbase following Xabi Alonso’s appointment as manager and a summer of big spending – and a change of transfer policy – points to a club desperate to get back on top.

There were plenty of reasons to be cheerful on the basis on Chelsea’s opening-day 3-2 victory over Fulham, with Alonso’s attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all getting on the scoresheet.

The west London giants will look to pick up where they left off against Luton in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday night before they return to top-flight action at home to Brighton.

However, questions remain over Chelsea’s defensive unit and goalkeeper at this embryonic stage of the 2026/27 season, with an under-fire Robert Sanchez largely at fault for both of Fulham’s goals at Craven Cottage.

‘The three points were important and there were moments when Chelsea were magnificent and played really well,’ ex-Chelsea striker Hasselbaink said of the performance on talkSPORT.

‘But there were also moments where you thought, “Oh!”, and that you need to get out and you need to get it out ASAP.

‘If Chelsea can have a lot of clean sheets in their games then they will have a chance.’

On Sanchez’s shaky showing, Hasselbaink continued: ‘Would I change him? He has had brilliant matches… brilliant, brilliant, brilliant matches.

‘The PSG match [in the Club World Cup] and some other ones, but he has has also had some moments where it’s not been that great.

‘Consistency… the best goalkeepers are consistent , they’re consistent, consistent, consistent.

‘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 today claim the Blues have opened talks to strike a late deal for Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

‘It’s one of those things: if you’ve got lots of money to spend then you maybe go and get the best goalkeeper out there and replace him because you need to become champions,’ Hasselbaink continued.

‘But that’s not the question is it.’

Asked if Chelsea are capable of winning the title with Sanchez between the sticks, the former Netherlands international replied: ‘If they do then he will have to improve a lot more than he has shown in the first match.’

According to Hasselbaink, Chelsea have every chance of finishing higher than Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool at the end of the season – helped by their lack of European competition.

However, the Dutchman is confident Arsenal are far and away the strongest team in the division and should be deemed the overwhelming favourites to defend their title.

‘Of course they’re going to challenge but they will not win it,’ he said of Chelsea’s title hopes.

‘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.

‘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.’

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