Gianfranco Zola has warned Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis that Chelsea are Premier League title contenders this season.
The Blues have amassed 20 factors from their opening 10 league video games and presently discover themselves fourth, seven factors behind early leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea endured an underwhelming begin to the season however have improved since Graham Potter changed Thomas Tuchel within the Stamford Bridge hot-seat.
The west London membership are nonetheless unbeaten below Potter, though they have been solely in a position to safe some extent towards mid-table Brentford on Wednesday night time.
Chelsea could really feel dissatisfied to be held by their west London rivals however Zola believes it's a ‘good level’ for his former membership, who he says ‘can't be dominated out’ of the title race.
Zola instructed Amazon Prime: ‘It’s nonetheless potential. Chelsea is an excellent group and has an enormous squad and they are often aggressive within the Champions League and even within the Premier League.
‘I mentioned earlier than the sport you can't rule out a group like Chelsea from the title race.
‘I imply there are lots of troublesome video games for the highest groups, however Chelsea will probably be there, clearly they must make one other step ahead to boost the standard however they are going to be there.’
Chelsea had goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to thank as they drew with Brentford final night time with the Spaniard twice maintaining out headers from Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo.
The guests got here near breaking the impasse by means of Kai Havertz and Cesar Azpilicueta however each have been denied by Brentford’s David Raya.
Former Chelsea ahead and assistant supervisor Zola added: ‘Chelsea is an enormous group and they're near the highest of the desk so you could say taking part in Brentford they should win, so a draw will not be a superb end result.
‘However contemplating that this Brentford group actually is a troublesome consumer, I think about this was a superb level for Chelsea.’
Potter, in the meantime, was ‘dissatisfied’ his Chelsea aspect failed to attain a winner towards Brentford however admitted a draw was the ‘truthful’ end result.
The ex-Brighton boss mentioned: ‘We’re at all times dissatisfied once we don’t win. Over the course of the sport some extent is truthful, that they had possibilities and we pushed on the finish.
‘It was a troublesome sport towards a group that makes it powerful. We pushed and pushed and gave it every thing.
‘It’s not straightforward with the schedule, however we put the hassle in and I’m happy with them – it’s a hard-earned level.’
Brentford supervisor Thomas Frank added: ‘The efficiency we had, particularly within the first half, we have been by far the higher group. Total we deserve the win, from the 84th minute we have been wanting a bit drained, however I feel we did fantastically.
‘Kepa was improbable. Each time Chelsea come right here, their goalkeeper is man of the match.’
Chelsea return to Premier League motion on Saturday with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United visiting Stamford Bridge.
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