Enzo Maresca admitted he could finally breathe after Chelsea secured their place at the top of the table — but Sunday's breathless 5-3 victory over Sunderland was not the kind of win that makes a manager sleep easy.

The Chelsea head coach described the contest as a "difficult" test, and the final scoreline did little to reflect just how nervy the occasion was. Sunderland pushed Chelsea hard throughout, turning what many expected to be a comfortable afternoon into a genuine battle at Stamford Bridge.

The result, however, extended Chelsea's perfect start to the season and gave Maresca something positive to hold onto during the international break. With his side sitting top of the league, the Italian coach will have a rare moment to step back before the campaign resumes.

Despite the relief, Maresca will know there are lessons to be learned from a performance that allowed Sunderland to score three times. Defensive lapses of that kind against sharper opposition could prove costly further down the line.

For now, though, Chelsea fans have every reason to feel encouraged. Five goals and three points — even if the journey there was far from straightforward — keeps their side in prime position as the season builds momentum.