Fragile Chelsea must avoid complacency against desperate Wolves | OneFootball

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday night against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a fixture that, on paper, should be routine but now carries an air of uncertainty.

The Blues’ midweek draw at Qarabag was a stark reminder of how quickly their rhythm can collapse when Enzo Maresca rotates his squad. What should have been a comfortable win over inferior opposition turned into a messy 2-2 draw, leaving questions about focus, depth, and consistency.

Maresca made seven changes in Baku to rest his regulars, but the decision backfired. Qarabag’s energy and belief exposed Chelsea’s inexperience and nearly delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Champions League round.

Even with stars like Enzo Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to salvage a point, the performance left doubts lingering. It was not the result that shakes confidence — it was the manner of it.

Chelsea were second-best for long spells, failed to control midfield, and showed defensive cracks that Wolves will look to exploit. The Italian manager later admitted his team are struggling to handle a congested schedule, and fatigue might again be a factor tomorrow.

However, Wolves are hardly a picture of stability themselves. The sacking of Vitor Pereira after a string of defeats has left the bottom club scrambling for direction. Interim coaches James Collins and Richard Walker will lead the side into this match, hoping to inspire a reaction after four consecutive league losses.

The Old Gold came close to upsetting Chelsea in their recent Carabao Cup meeting, losing 4-3 after a chaotic end-to-end encounter. That fight, coupled with the short turnaround, suggests Wolves will not roll over easily at Stamford Bridge.

Still, logic points to Chelsea. They have won three of their last four league games and sit seventh in the table, their defensive record among the strongest in the division. Maresca’s side have trailed for less than 15 percent of the season — a sign of their growing control when their key men are on the pitch.

A more settled lineup is expected this weekend, with Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro all likely to start after being rested in Azerbaijan. The energy of Estevao Willian, who scored in Baku, offers another bright spark in attack.

Yet Chelsea cannot afford another lapse. A slow start or careless defending could embolden Wolves, who are desperate for a morale-boosting result.

With a trip to Atalanta and a visit from Barcelona looming, Maresca will want to re-establish order before fatigue and uncertainty creep further in.

On paper, Chelsea should have enough quality to respond and secure victory. But as their chaotic night in Baku proved, reputation alone no longer guarantees control. They will need focus as much as flair to ensure a supposedly simple assignment does not turn complicated again.