Chelsea’s pre-season preparations concluded on Sunday with a hard-fought encounter against Inter Milan, signaling the end of an eventful summer. Under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues are now just a week away from kicking off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign against reigning champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, who took over following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure, faces the daunting task of leading Chelsea back to the top after a mixed pre-season. The Blues suffered heavy defeats against Celtic and Manchester City, raising questions about the readiness of Maresca’s squad. However, with pre-season now behind them, all eyes are focused on the upcoming clash with Pep Guardiola’s formidable side, a match that will be a true test of Chelsea’s ambitions.
The opening fixture against Manchester City is as tough as it gets. Chelsea faced City in a pre-season match, where they were outclassed 4-2. This encounter has left the Blues with much to ponder as they prepare for what could be a grueling start to the season.
Following the City match, Chelsea’s schedule does not ease up. They face a slightly more forgiving away trip to Wolves, where they’ll reunite with Pedro Neto, one of their summer signings. However, a home fixture against Crystal Palace, who lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and could be without key defender Marc Guehi, still poses a significant challenge.
The Blues’ next set of fixtures includes consecutive away games against Bournemouth and West Ham, both of which come after the international break. These matches will be crucial in setting the tone for Chelsea’s season, especially with the added pressure of a two-legged Europa Conference League playoff tie to navigate.
The new season represents a fresh start for Chelsea, who are now under their fourth permanent manager since BlueCo took ownership in 2022. The previous tenures of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino were short-lived, and the club’s recent struggles have drawn criticism, particularly given the substantial investment in transfers.
Despite the challenges, there is cautious optimism among Chelsea fans. The team showed signs of improvement towards the end of last season, and there is hope that they can mount a serious challenge for Champions League qualification. However, winning the Premier League seems a distant dream, with some analysts giving Chelsea just a 4.76% chance of clinching the title.
Chelsea’s transfer strategy has once again focused on youth, with three of their new arrivals under the age of 21. Notable signings include Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who followed Maresca from Leicester City, and Tosin Adarabioyo, who joined from Fulham. Meanwhile, veteran defender Thiago Silva has departed for Brazilian side Fluminense, and Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson have moved to Aston Villa and Ipswich, respectively.
The Premier League landscape is shifting, with more clubs seriously vying for Champions League spots. Last season, Newcastle broke into the top four, disrupting the traditional dominance of the ‘Big Six’. This season, the competition is expected to be even fiercer, with clubs like Brighton and Aston Villa also making strong cases for a top-four finish.
As Chelsea prepares for the new campaign, the pressure is on Maresca to deliver results quickly. With a challenging start to the season and the added demands of European competition, the Blues will need to hit the ground running if they hope to return to the upper echelons of English football.
