The Lowdown
Chelsea’s stroll to the league title with a lack of any real competition was evidence enough that they were comfortably the best side in the country in 2014/15. Before Christmas, the combination of Eden Hazard, an on-form Oscar and new signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa stunned the league with their displays of predatory football.
However, following a shambolic 5-3 defeat at Tottenham on New Year’s Day, Chelsea reverted to type and were far more cautious in the run-in. While performances were less aesthetically impressive, this was not at the expense of results, and the Blues won the title with weeks to spare, losing only three games along the way – one of which was a dead rubber at West Brom when the title was already secure.
Despite picking up the Capital One Cup trophy along the way, Chelsea’s performances in cup competitions were far less impressive, exiting the FA Cup in the fourth round after a humiliating 4-2 defeat at home to League One’s Bradford City, and losing tamely to ten-man PSG on away goals in the first knockout round of the Champions League.
Where could they finish?
Chelsea’s dominance over the rest of the league manifested in an eight-point winning margin
Chelsea boss José Mourinho will obviously be aiming to defend the title, as he did after his first title win at Chelsea ten years ago, but an improvement in the Champions League will be expected. Last season Chelsea failed to compete with the European elite, however in light of a lack of any first-team signings, as well as a disappointing pre-season in which Chelsea failed to record a single victory (other than in penalty shoot-outs) and also lost 1-0 to title rivals Arsenal in the Community Shield, competing on two fronts may prove to be difficult. Especially considering the improvements made by league rivals in the transfer market, as well as European rivals Bayern and PSG, signing Arturo Vidal and Angel di Maria respectively.
Star Player?
Eden Hazard, the league’s best player, who was named Premier League Player of the Season and the PFA Player’s Player of the Season. He is the focal point of Chelsea’s attack, and was recently named by Jose Mourinho as one of the best two players in the world. In the second half of last season Chelsea’s attack may well have been too reliant on Hazard, with Willian’s questionable end product, Oscar losing form, and Costa suffering from injury; to truly step up to the next level, his team-mates will need to make a greater contribution.
However, if Hazard’s lung-busting goal (for which he beat four defenders) in a pre-season friendly against Barcelona is anything to go by, the young Belgian is still hungry to improve.
Chelsea’s opening fixtures for the 2015/16 Premier League season
Surprise Package?
Oscar, the intelligent Brazilian attacking midfielder who shocked fans across Europe with two goals in as many minutes on his full Chelsea debut against Juventus – the second a sublime long-range strike which swerved past legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Oscar’s form has generally followed a regular pattern: an outstanding first half of the season followed by a disappointing second half, which has led Blues fans to question whether his consistency is sufficient for an elite club, although fatigue has been raised as a potential cause.
However, this is the first time since joining Chelsea that Oscar has had the benefit of a full pre-season without international commitments. It is entirely possible that this will make all the difference, and this could well be the season where Oscar raises his game closer to the level of team-mate Eden Hazard.
Biggest Summer Arrival?
As much as Chelsea fans would like the answer to this to be John Stones, a lack of alternative arrivals means that it must be Radamel Falcao. Despite Mourinho’s comments to the press professing his belief that Falcao remains a top-level striker, many were surprised when Chelsea signed the out-of-sorts Colombian, following two fruitless and injury-hit seasons at Monaco and Manchester United. However, if Falcao can get anywhere close to his Atletico Madrid form, which was recently described by former Chelsea great Hernan Crespo as “best of the ‘human players,’” Chelsea will have pulled off a transfer coup.
More Business before September 1st?
Chelsea have been uncharacteristically muted in the transfer market this summer, only moving to secure strength in depth, signing Asmir Begovic and Radamel Falcao to replace the departing Petr Cech and Didier Drogba. Chelsea have also added numbers to their loan army, acquiring young Brazilian attacking midfielder Nathan and young Serbian central midfielder Danilo Pantic, both of whom have already been loaned to feeder club Vitesse Arnhem for the season. A new backup left-back will be needed following Filipe Luis’ return to Atletico Madrid; the Blues have been strongly linked with Augsburg’s Baba Rahman, who was recently in London for a medical and Galatasaray’s Alex Telles.
The Blues have made two bids for Everton centre-back John Stones and have also been linked with want-away Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez. However, in recent weeks rumours have been connecting the 2010 World Cup winner to Manchester United, in a move to replace now-PSG star Angel di Maria.
Likely Starting XI?
Considering the lack of first-team signings, as well as the gap in quality between the first XIs of Chelsea and their rivals, it is hard to imagine any fundamental change from last season. That said, Costa’s recent problems with his hamstrings are “a bit of a concern” for Mourinho, and any long-term injury to other key men such as Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, and captain John Terry would present a huge problem for the Blues.
Mourinho has declared his intention to make use of Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League-winning youngsters, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek already promoted to the first team, although Mourinho was critical of the young midfielder following a disappointing pre-season showing. Kurt Zouma may also stake his claim on a first-team spot following an impressive debut season at Stamford Bridge, and former loanees Nathaniel Chalobah, Bertrand Traoré, and Victor Moses also travelled to the USA for Chelsea’s pre-season tour. At the beginning of the season, however, it is hard to imagine anything other than the first XI which ended the previous campaign.