After two seasons of free spending, managerial modifications and full underachievement, Chelsea have lastly settled beneath the Clearlake-Boehly regime, with Enzo Maresca on the helm.
Regardless of a return to competing for continental locations, the sheer sum of money spent on their crew might want to ultimately justify the worth paid, within the return of silverware and constant high 4 finishes.
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The Premier League to date
It’s unusual to say {that a} crew that price virtually £2bn have been virtually an unknown amount heading into the season, however there was an actual combined opinion on the place the Blues would find yourself come the tip of the 24/25 marketing campaign.
In direction of the tip of the 23/24 season, it had began to look as if it had all come collectively beneath Mauricio Pochettino, however his departure in the summertime threw extra doubt over the competency of the present possession.
Nevertheless, the appointment of Maresca from Leicester had seemed to be a masterstroke as a nine-game unbeaten streak following defeat to Liverpool noticed Chelsea simply 4 factors off the league leaders heading into Christmas.
After shedding towards Fulham, inconsistency has turn out to be a problem, solely successful 4 of their 9 league video games in 2025, with two of these towards relegation fodder in Southampton and Leicester.
The drop in kind from key participant Cole Palmer has been a merciless coincidence, because the Englishman has struggled to copy his early season kind, scoring only one aim in 2025, a stat that appeared unthinkable in going into the brand new yr.
This comes alongside a season-long subject between the sticks, with neither Robert Sanchez nor Filip Jorgensen capable of preserve their place within the facet, offering a constant weak point that can present hope for his or her crew.
The return of Reece James will present a lift for the crew, offering he can keep match, as they hope to return to a extra constant run of kind, which is able to possible be sufficient to search out themselves within the prolonged Champions League locations.
Will Chelsea match Convention League expectations?
The controversial European competitors has been a breeding floor for Chelsea’s huge array of gamers, with Maresca utilizing the competitors to present alternatives to those that have struggled to get minutes within the league, in addition to kids comparable to Tyrique George.
Having been the early match favourites, the Blues have lived as much as that tag, coasting by way of the league part after a shock defeat within the playoff second leg towards Swiss facet Servette.
After getting previous potential banana pores and skin FC Copenhagen, they’ll subsequent face Legia Warsaw, in a tie you’ll count on the West London facet to win comfortably.
With clear second favourites Fiorentina and Actual Betis on the opposite facet of the draw, it feels protected to imagine that Chelsea will meet a kind of groups within the ultimate, and also you’d need to favour Maresca’s facet on paper.
A trophy win, regardless of the expectation, would do so much for the Italian in his first season on the membership, and would proceed his silverware streak following his Championship win with Leicester final season.
What does a profitable season appear like for Chelsea?
If Chelsea can win the Convention League, and finish the season within the high 5, will probably be laborious to argue towards that not being successful for Maresca and co.
After their sturdy begin to the season, it could be seen as barely underwhelming, however the Blues have slowly began to construct again after the disastrous 22/23 season.
Some huge cash has been spent, and whereas the crew nonetheless seems unbalanced, a Champions League end does present a great platform to draw gamers who add to Chelsea’s senior squad.
With solely three video games towards groups which might be in and round them, in Fulham, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, in addition to massive video games towards the struggling Tottenham and Manchester United, the Blues have a comparatively difficult run-in.
It isn’t out of the query that Chelsea drops out of the highest 5, which makes successful the Convention League essential when it comes to leaving the season with one thing to hold their hat on.
