This season’s Premier League title race is just heating up – but William Gallas has already ruled one of his former sides out of next year’s race.
A superb start from new manager Arne Slot has seen Liverpool open up a healthy lead at the top of the table with just one loss in their first 14 games.
The Reds, however, saw their lead cut to seven points in midweek after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Arsenal and Chelsea are the nearest challengers so far, while defending champions Manchester City are nine points behind Slot’s side having stopped their seven-match winless run with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Despite their impressive start, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has repeatedly ruled out his side’s chances of contending for the league come the end of the season.
‘I said many times. And I really like the pressure I really like to say yes we are there but we are not there,’ Maresca said last week.
‘Arsenal is ahead of us, City is ahead of us. Liverpool is showing they are ahead of us. The important thing is we improve game after game and then we see.’
Former Blues centre-back Gallas agrees with Maresca’s assessment of his squad’s current capabilities but the Frenchman also believes that the west London club will be a huge threat to other challengers next season.
And combined with a resurgent City under Pep Guardiola and a new-look Manchester United team under Ruben Amorim, Gallas fears that his other former club Arsenal may struggle to keep up.
‘Enzo Maresca knows Chelsea are not in the title race. I think the same thing,’ he told Prime Casino.
‘Chelsea are not ready to compete for the Premier League title this season. I said to you, Chelsea will be ready next season.
‘Next season they will be ready, because right now it looks like they are going to finish around fourth. But next season they will be ready for the race.’
Gallas continued: ‘That’s why teams like Arsenal, if they don’t win this season, next season it will be difficult because Chelsea will be there. United will be there. City will be there again.
‘Next season will be a big season with several teams competing for the title, and I don’t think Arsenal will be challenging for the title next year. I think the increased competition will give Arsenal a lot of problems next year.’
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