Are Chelsea Almost Back? They Are Certainly On Their Way

Are Chelsea Almost Back? They Are Certainly On Their Way

Chandler Milligan

Chelsea are preparing to close the curtains on what has been a completely ordinary and lacklustre campaign that is silently dripping in success.

Champions League football secured next season, and one final chance to claim European glory in the Conference League this Thursday (AEST).

After winning the Champions League Final in 2021 against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, it’s been one deep spiral for the Blues.

The days of Frank Lampard were over, and the German tactician Thomas Tuchel had taken down Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid en route to the title.

Two seasons later, his former club found themselves mid-table.

This downfall didn’t start on the football field, but on another field entirely.

In February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine.

The consequences of this invasion impacted football heavily and led to the Russians being banned from international competitions.

Chelsea, with their Russian owner, were sanctioned.

Roman Abramovich’s assets were frozen, and the only option then was to sell the club.

After almost 20 years at the helm, overseeing the greatest success in the club’s history, the Russian businessman was forced to hand the keys to his very expensive club over to an American character named Todd Boehly.

To make a long story short: Todd Boehly clashed with Thomas Tuchel straight away, couldn’t comprehend why he wouldn’t want to sign a 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, butted heads on the club’s transfer policy, and eventually severed ties seven games into the new season after a defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

The decision sent controversial shockwaves rolling through the football world.

A UCL title, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup in his brief but successful stint.

But it didn’t matter to the man upstairs.

Boehly opened his wallet, and the rest, until now, has been comical history.

The 2022/23 season saw four different coaches lead Chelsea in a downward spiralling campaign that saw them finish 12th in the Premier League.

Their lowest finish in almost 30 years.

Graham Potter was brought in to succeed Thomas Tuchel, lasting just eight months before Bruno Saltor (interim), and then Frank Lampard was brought in to finish the season.

Back to square one for the Blues.

Frank Lampard won just one of his 11 games in charge, and Todd Boehly’s first season as owner was nothing short of a disaster.

Club captain César Azpilicueta left ahead of the 2023/24 season, and Mauricio Pochettino was welcomed to the club as Head Coach.

There was nothing remarkable about his one-year stint back in London.

But he managed to steer the club back into the European places with a sixth-place finish to see them qualify for the UEFA Conference League for the first time.

If there’s one thing Chelsea became known for in the Boehly era, it was burning money like Heath Ledger’s Joker.

Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Chelsea had made an insane 42 signings in just over two years, with Jadon Sancho’s loan from Manchester United marking the final addition.

With Mathis Amougou joining from Saint-Etienne back in February the only mid season acquisition.

They have spent over £1.15billion in that period, with Moises Caicedo boasting the highest price tag at £115million.

Somehow, despite this, their squad looks far weaker than Thomas Tuchel’s UCL-winning squad from several years earlier.

While Cole Palmer has been the star of the show since joining from Manchester City, it’s hard to think of many other players who have made a notable impact.

With most of the players aged 23 and under, this Chelsea side resembled an amateur Football Manager save more than a Premier League football club.

Not just a lack of experience and leadership, but at one point it was reported that they had run out of space in their Cobram dressing room for the players to get changed.

Chelsea balanced their books with a massive clear-out, with many players leaving after only one season at the club.

Even with their sixth-place finish, Chelsea were a laughing stock to the rest of the world.

Now, into the current campaign.

It hasn’t been good, bad, or special (yet – a shot at the Conference League awaits). If you’re not a Chelsea fan, you probably haven’t paid the club any attention at all.

Enzo Maresca took the mantle of Head Coach, joining from Leicester City, and the Italian manager has done an effective job steering the club back into the Premier League Top Four.

A 1-0 victory over dark horses Nottingham Forest was enough to clinch fourth place in an epic Matchday 38 that saw five different teams vying for third and fourth place.

They also travel to Poland this week to face Antony’s Real Betis in the Conference League Final.

If Chelsea were to triumph, they would be the first club to complete the treble of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.

Only five points behind Arsenal, the West London side have massively improved on their previous two campaigns, securing 20 wins in the league while achieving great victories over Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle, and Aston Villa.

Chelsea initially found themselves in an unlikely title race after a great start to the season, but a slight slump between December and February saw them drop into the UCL qualification rat-race.

While the football hasn’t always been spectacular, Chelsea have been admirable at Stamford Bridge, losing only twice in the league all season.

They have underperformed in front of goal, with Cole Palmer’s strange drop in form blunting their attacking edge.

Defensively, however, they have been sound.

Robert Sánchez has been reliable between the sticks, managing 10 clean sheets in the Premier League.

With an average age of 24 years and 36 days, Maresca’s Chelsea are the youngest team in Premier League history, and have certainly earned their success this season.

As they enter the Conference League Final as heavy favourites against Real Betis, the Blues could turn an ordinary season into an astonishing success.

Even if this season doesn’t reflect the glory of days past, the Blues have certainly defined critics this season and given themselves a strong platform to build on next season.

They’re not back yet, but they are close.

If they can sign a few experienced players while keeping most of their squad intact, they should have what it takes to mount a serious campaign in 2026.