Guardian writers’ predicted position: 7th (NB: this does not necessarily reflect John Brewin’s prediction but rather the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 6th
Prospects
Describing Chelsea in the 2024-25 season as enigmatic hardly captures the full extent of their situation. The aftermath of their 2021 Champions League triumph has been marked by chaos and uncertainty. The football community watches in disbelief as a club with such a rich and vibrant history is transformed into an investment tool, serving as a trading platform for venture capitalists.
The rapid turnover of players mirrors the ownership’s impatience with managers. However, last season saw meaningful progress under Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership. Securing sixth place and European football for this season, alongside losing the Carabao Cup final on penalties, marks considerable improvement given how inexperienced many of these players are. Therefore, it came as little surprise when Pochettino parted ways with the club by mutual consent—something he appeared to accept without much discomfort.
A pressing necessity to achieve financial balance followed an erratically expansive recruitment strategy that cost over a billion pounds; thus, Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher—who has agreed to move to Atlético Madrid—have been placed on the transfer market. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s academy now faces increased expectations to produce top-tier talent ready for sale following the recent departures of several long-serving key staff members.
While there exists undeniable talent within the squad, one major question looms: can Cole Palmer replicate his previous miracles? Will Chelsea fans witness more than just brief glimpses of Christopher Nkunku? His debut campaign was marred by injuries despite displaying significant potential last season. Likewise, Roméo Lavia featured even less frequently than expected due to similar issues affecting Reece James’s fitness levels. There remain reasons for cautious optimism; aside from Palmer’s impressive performances, Malo Gusto represents one of Pochettino’s successes. Marc Cucurella shone during Euro 2024 and no longer seems like a poor investment at £62 million. Nevertheless, numerous uncertainties persist regarding what lies ahead for Chelsea in this latest chapter.
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