Football
Premier League team introductions: Chelsea go into the new season with the highest ambitions
Winner of the last edition of the Champions League. Chelsea’s triumph was hugely unexpected, but thoroughly deserved. Now Kanté and co. have another big challenge ahead of them. To do something similar in the Premier League.
Winner of the last edition of the Champions League. Chelsea’s triumph was hugely unexpected, but thoroughly deserved. Now Kanté and co. have another big challenge ahead of them. To do something similar in the Premier League. The comeback of Romelu Lukaku can help them do that. Pre-season ambitions are high. Can Chelsea live up to them?
The Blues’ last season was one of ups and downs. During the summer transfer window, the club’s management made massive purchases and brought in reinforcements worth more than 200 million euros. The squad was suitably replenished, qualitatively much stronger. There was virtually no weakness. The only question mark was whether the massive player changes would hurt the London club or boost it.
The first option was the right one. Coach Lampard had failed to integrate these reinforcements ideally into the team. He did not find them in ideal positions and failed to play to their strengths. So Chelsea languished rather than chasing the best. Defensively, the team’s attacking play was the problem. The counter-productive offensive was not even lifted by Werner and Havertz.
As time went on, Chelsea slipped in the table and even found themselves outside the top 4. The club’s management had to react to this and dismissed coach Lampard. In January, a new coach arrived – Thomas Tuchel.
The German coach immediately lifted the team. He gave the team a perfect playing system and ideal tactics tailored to the team. Thanks to their improved performances, the Blues returned to the Top 4 and also did well in the Champions League. Chelsea managed to knock out Atlético Madrid, Porto and Real Madrid and sensationally advanced to the final. They also beat Manchester City in the battle for Europe’s most valuable trophy and dominated the Champions League for the second time in their history.
While last season’s triumph was a big surprise, the Blues will go into the next one as big favourites. Tuchel and co. will have only the highest ambitions. In the Champions League, they will target a defence, which will be an almost unrealistic task in the face of a star-studded PSG side.
The main objective will therefore be to attack the Premier League title. The arrival of Romelu Lukaku could help to do that, this transfer could be the final piece to the mosaic. The Belgian striker will become the Blues’ first summer signing in the coming days. As far as departures are concerned, the skeleton of the team remains the same. Only a few unnecessary players have left.
Arrivals – Lukaku
Departures – Tomori, Giroud, Moses, Van Ginkel
Team strengths:
The team has tremendous quality in all positions. Its composition is an ideal combination of experience combined with predatory youth. It is also wide enough, which gives Tuchel plenty of options. He is hugely motivated after his Champions League triumph and has the desire to do something similar in the domestic league. Chelsea have all the ingredients to make the upcoming season a success as well.
Theteam’s weaknesses
They are practically non-existent. Chelsea lacked a goal-scoring striker, but after the engagement of Lukaku this problem will be solved. The players will be under more pressure, the opponents will be much more wary of them. There will be greater pre-season expectations and team ambitions. Under Lampard, Chelsea didn’t put up much of that pressure, let’s see how it goes now.
How will the Blues fare in the coming season?
In summary, this season could belong to Chelsea. The team is of tremendous quality, the symbiosis with coach Tuchel works perfectly. The Blues will definitely be one of the teams to watch. They are one of the big title contenders in the league, winning the big trophy is a clear goal. The ambitions are huge and it’s just a question of whether they can fulfil them. However, in the competition of both Manchester and Liverpool clubs, nothing easy awaits them.
Source: Transfermarkt