Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
After two seasons of free spending, managerial modifications and full underachievement, Chelsea have lastly settled below 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 workforce might want to ultimately justify the worth paid, within the return of silverware and constant prime 4 finishes.
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The Premier League to this point
It’s unusual to say {that a} workforce that value nearly £2bn had been nearly 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 below 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 in opposition to Fulham, inconsistency has grow to be a problem, solely successful 4 of their 9 league video games in 2025, with two of these in opposition to relegation fodder in Southampton and Leicester.
The drop in type from key participant Cole Palmer has been a merciless coincidence, because the Englishman has struggled to copy his early season type, scoring only one objective in 2025, a stat that appeared unthinkable in going into the brand new 12 months.
This comes alongside a season-long situation between the sticks, with neither Robert Sanchez nor Filip Jorgensen capable of maintain their place within the facet, offering a constant weak spot that can present hope for his or her workforce.
The return of Reece James will present a lift for the workforce, offering he can keep match, as they hope to return to a extra constant run of type, which can doubtless 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 offer alternatives to those that have struggled to get minutes within the league, in addition to kids akin to Tyrique George.
Having been the early event favourites, the Blues have lived as much as that tag, coasting via the league part after a shock defeat within the playoff second leg in opposition to Swiss facet Servette.
After getting previous potential banana pores and skin FC Copenhagen, they’ll subsequent face Legia Warsaw, in a tie you’d 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 type of groups within the closing, and also you’d need to favour Maresca’s facet on paper.
A trophy win, regardless of the expectation, would do lots 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 to be for Chelsea?
If Chelsea can win the Convention League, and finish the season within the prime 5, it is going to be laborious to argue in opposition to that not being successful for Maresca and co.
After their robust begin to the season, it might 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 workforce nonetheless seems to be unbalanced, a Champions League end does present a superb platform to draw gamers who add to Chelsea’s senior squad.
With solely three video games in opposition to groups which might be in and round them, in Fulham, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, in addition to massive video games in opposition to the struggling Tottenham and Manchester United, the Blues have a comparatively difficult run-in.
It’s not out of the query that Chelsea drops out of the highest 5, which makes successful the Convention League essential by way of leaving the season with one thing to hold their hat on.
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