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The least productive manner for the Blues to react to their dominant victory of Barça would be to buy into the hype. The challenge is that emotions in the sport shift from one pole to another, as the individuals overseeing things at the club have swiftly come to appreciate.

They have encountered plenty of mockery for their unconventional approach since acquiring the side from the previous owner three years ago, so perhaps they are entitled to be a little sceptical now that the Blues are being commended for their player acquisition plan and talked up as potential championship challengers before facing Arsenal on Sunday.

Opposite to widespread perception, this is not a management that becomes overexcited easily. The initial disorder has settled – the Blues have had several long-term head coaches since their purchase by Todd Boehly and their partners – and the goal of building a enduring long‑term initiative is at odds with panicking to one disappointing performance, one solid streak of results or even one thumping victory over the Catalan club in the Europe.

The message has not shifted since the outset of the season: remain humble. It is valuable recalling that there was plenty of sceptical noise from outside when Chelsea suffered defeat to the Red Devils and Brighton & Hove Albion at the close of September. Was anybody speaking about a title push then? Or, indeed, after the club let slip a single-goal advantage and lost at home to the Black Cats last month? The mood was distinct. Level heads were necessary; the instruction from on high was that the head coach and his squad had to have faith in themselves after the loss by Albion.

Now, with draining travel fixtures against Leeds United and AFC Bournemouth to follow next week, the priority is on ensuring the team are not lulled into satisfaction after that impressive defeat of Barça.

Maybe that calm atmosphere will aid the youngest squad in the Premier League stay balanced. Maresca, measured to a extreme in his media interactions, aligns with the strategy. The Blues were in a analogous situation this time last year but the Italian consistently maintained they were not in the league race. He believed it was too soon in their evolution. Maresca received criticism when the side dropped off and finished in a battle for European placement – had he offered the squad an out? – but he was in his maiden season as a English coach. He and his squad had to make mistakes and progress.

It is a intentional tactic. Maresca is not inclined to making bold statements, often saying he is looking ahead no beyond than the next game. His position has not been changed by the Blues climbing to second after five successes from their previous six fixtures. It will probably not even shift radically if they overcome their rivals and reduce their rivals’ lead to three points.

“Whether we triumph, whether we do not prevail, I feel it’s too premature,” Maresca said on Friday. “We are still in the eleventh month. It’s incredibly crucial in winter, spring, where we are. From there we’ll assess if we can achieve something significant.”

That was about as approximate as it gets to an acknowledgment that, certainly, it is feasible for the Blues to challenge the Gunners. Yet there is no expectation on the manager to win the league this campaign. The coach has goals to hit but the club will not review his contributions until this summer. They have absolutely no intention to be compelled into sacking a manager during a term again. The Blues desire stability and are only just getting going.

They have deals in order to sign more youngsters in the summers of the coming years and later. They were questioned for transferring the winger to their rivals last window but did so because transferring an experienced top-flight attacker had to be executed to create room for the arriving the Brazilian.

The youngster is learning. The youngster winger was outstanding against Barça, netting a breathtaking strike, but the South American starlet is not expected to line up against Arsenal. His minutes is being prudently overseen by the manager. The side had a interrupted pre-season after progressing all the way in last summer’s international competition. The manager’s extensive changes is an indication of a manager planning about long-term as well as short-term.

Notwithstanding the restraint, though, it is also correct that the Blues are absolutely capable of defeating their rivals. the attacker is returned after a lengthy lay-off and set to play. the forward is in excellent condition in the final third, and the midfielder and Enzo Fernández will compete with their opponents’ midfield power.

The head coach said overcoming Paris Saint-Germain in that global tournament final had aided his squad’s attitude. He likes that they are spreading the goals around more evenly than the previous campaign, when there was too much leaning on Palmer. A talented bench will also provide him a range of methods to confront Arsenal’s defensive might.

Will it be sufficient? Maybe not at this stage. The Blues occasionally do not have a clinical touch and the centre-back’s injury with a prolonged {