Chelsea news: Opinion – Fara Williams on need for experience this summer

Enzo Maresca has done a fantastic job in his first season at Chelsea.

He did well to cut his squad early, and has dealt effectively with the pressure and noise that comes with managing a club that has spent so much money.

Not long ago, there was talk about whether he would keep his job if the season ended poorly, but he has to now. He has begun to build and has tasted a little bit of success. There is no point in changing the manager.

To continue improving, though, he does need to add some experience.

There was a point earlier in the season when it appeared Chelsea could be in the title race, but Maresca came out and said the team were not ready. That certainly had a negative impact on an inexperienced squad and form dipped massively.

It felt as if the players took their foot off the pedal a little bit and realised the pressure was not on them to win the Premier League this year. That can happen with young players.

In glimpses, Chelsea have shown they can compete at a high level, but for the majority of the season, they have also shown how young they are. That is why it is important to have senior players around to get the balance right.

I know the club’s transfer strategy, but sometimes plans must change if the need is so obvious.

As it stands, this young squad cannot compete to win the Premier League next season. I have to be realistic about that.

They need a goalkeeper, an experienced centre-half and a striker who score upwards of 20 goals. If they get that, there is no reason they cannot start talking about competing – but given the money spent, it is an oversight that so much more experience in key areas is needed.

Look at Arsenal these past few years trying to win the title with a young squad – it is really hard to do. There is definitely a balance to be found. To sustain a challenge, you really need at least one or two who have been in those situations before.

Maresca has shown enough to earn the trust of the hierarchy, but this is a vital summer to add the required experience to push on.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport’s Nat Hayward