Chelsea - When Will It Click?

The Blues from West London were once one of the most feared sides in the Premier League. However, due to poor on-field performances and puzzling behind-the-scenes decisions, Chelsea fans are approaching the upcoming season with great pessimism.

The Roman Empire

Chelsea’s former owner, the Russian Roman Abramovich, could be characterized as pragmatic, fearless, and ambitious. In a rare 2021 interview with Forbes, Abramovich spoke about his ambitious nature: 'The ambitions are as true now as they were when I first became owner, and I hope that can be seen through the work we have been doing on and off the pitch over the last 17 years.' This mindset permeated the club, from the board to the manager and players. Since his takeover in 2003, many rival fans were envious of his significant spending during each transfer window, but Roman didn’t mind, as the on-pitch performances spoke for themselves. Chelsea won 19 trophies during his reign, including five Premier Leagues and two Champions Leagues.

The changing of the guard

In 2022, Roman Abramovich decided to sell Chelsea due to the threat of being sanctioned by the UK government amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. To avoid more severe sanctions, Abramovich immediately sought a willing buyer. Numerous bids were submitted by various groups, but Chelsea was ultimately purchased for over $5 billion by American billionaire Todd Boehly, who led a consortium with Mark Walter, Hansjörg Wyss, and Clearlake Capital. This marked the beginning of a new era. Chelsea fans were divided—some were skeptical, wary of American ownership like the Glazers, who have mistreated Manchester United fans for years. Others were excited, noting the meteoric rise of the Dodgers (an MLB team) under Boehly's leadership.

Managerial Merry-Go-Round

When Todd Boehly took over the club, Thomas Tuchel was the manager and was beloved by Chelsea fans, having led them to an unlikely Champions League victory and navigated through financial constraints. However, Boehly and Tuchel frequently clashed over transfers, particularly when Boehly wanted to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, a move Tuchel opposed. Their differing visions fueled tensions, especially as Chelsea struggled early in the 2022-23 season, with just three wins and a heavy loss to Leeds United. After a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, Tuchel was unexpectedly sacked, shocking fans. Reports later revealed that Boehly and co-owner Behdad Eghbali had conducted a 100-day review of the club and decided to part ways with Tuchel due to disagreements over transfer strategies. While the new owners focused on long-term signings, Tuchel sought immediate reinforcements, leading to the friction that ultimately cost him his job.

Thomas Tuchel was succeeded by Brighton’s Graham Potter, known for his adaptable and attractive style of football. Potter started strong, securing three Premier League wins and leading Chelsea to the top of their Champions League group. However, a 4-1 loss to his former club Brighton in October marked the beginning of his struggles. Chelsea’s form quickly declined, with numerous defeats, including a 1-0 loss to bottom-placed Southampton, and early exits from both the League Cup and FA Cup. Potter’s constant tinkering with tactics and questionable substitutions left the team without a clear identity. After a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, Potter was sacked in April, just eight months into his tenure, with a record of 12-8-11 and a 39% win rate. Bruno Saltor, one of Potter’s assistants, stepped in as interim manager but was reluctant to take on the role.

Boehly brought back Chelsea legend Frank Lampard as interim manager. Lampard, the club's all-time top scorer and former manager, returned after a brief stint at Everton, where he was sacked with the team in the relegation zone. In his interim role, Lampard managed to win just one of 11 games, with Chelsea struggling in attack, midfield, and defense. His tactics lacked clarity, and his lineups and substitutions were often puzzling, such as playing Raheem Sterling as a false nine and deploying Conor Gallagher and N’Golo Kanté on the wings against Real Madrid in the Champions League. It seemed like the hunt for the next Jose Mourinho was never going to end.

The club took a step back, carefully considering potential candidates to ensure the next choice would be the right one. After two months, Chelsea landed on Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino. Despite winning the French league title in the 2021/22 campaign, PSG’s owners didn’t feel it was enough to justify keeping him at the club. Some Chelsea fans were uncertain about the idea of appointing a former Spurs boss, especially one who, as PSG manager, was criticized for a style of play that some considered unexciting. This sense of pessimism was heightened by the fact that recent managerial appointments hadn’t gone too well. However, it was Pochettino’s time in the Premier League, managing Southampton and Tottenham, that earned him a strong reputation. Mauricio Pochettino took over Chelsea on July 1st, signing a two-year contract with a potential extension. The season started poorly, with Chelsea struggling for consistency and facing criticism. However, Pochettino turned things around with a run of five straight wins, securing a sixth-place finish in the Premier League. In cup competitions, Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup final but finished as runners-up and made it to the FA Cup semi-finals. Despite a rocky start, Pochettino's late-season performance provided hope for the future and showcased the team’s potential. Many Chelsea fans believed that their club was beginning to regain momentum and hoped to carry that into the new season. However, Pochettino departed the following summer by mutual consent, leaving the club feeling like it was back to square one. Now, with former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca at the helm, the question remains: will things finally regain stability in the managerial department?