How Chelsea’s Struggles could spell good news for 2023/24

The worst season in decades – 2022/23

It has been a season to forget for Chelsea fans this year. The first season since Roman Abramovich has left the club has been a frustrating one for the West London outfit.

The 2 times UEFA Champions League winners started the campaign under the lead of the successful Thomas Tuchel, the man who led them to their second Champions League title in 2021, beating Manchester City 1-0, thanks to a Kai Havertz goal.

Although this season was not to start with the same kind of success, early season defeats to Leeds and Southampton started to highlight some unrest in the club, with a leaky defence being at the forefront of their issues.

Tuchel would only last 7 days into September before being given his marching orders by American owner Todd Boehly, with a 1-0 away defeat to Dinamo Zagreb being the final straw for the German Head Coach.

The dust had hardly settled on Tuchel’s sacking before Graham Potter was hired the next day. The former Swansea manager had been impressing Premier League fans with his Brighton side, after a 9^th place finish in the 2021/22 season followed by the south-coast outfit finding themselves in 4^th place, 6 games into the current season.

It was this good form that encouraged Chelsea to spend £17.5 million on bringing Potter to the club, a record fee for a manager.

The new managerial appointment appeared to bring some good form back to the club, with the team staying unbeaten across 9 games in October. Although, this good form was only short-lived, as Graham Potter and his star-studded team lost 4 Premier League matches in a row before the winter break for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, leaving Chelsea sat in 9^th place.

Graham Potter’s rollercoaster ride in charge of the club only continued in the coming months, with stories of unrest in the camp, and the club hierarchy becoming impatient, Potter was to become the second Chelsea managerial casualty of the season on 2^nd April, with the club sat in 11^th in the table.

Although, eyebrows were raised by the sacking, as Potter had just guided his side through a tough Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund and a huge Quarter Final affair against Real Madrid awaited the club.

Chelsea legend and former manager Frank Lampard was next to join the club, coming back for his second stint in charge, as he was appointed as interim manager for the rest of the season.

In the couple of weeks in charge that Lampard has had so far, things have seemingly worsened for the club, as they lost at home to Brighton in between two 2-0 Champions League defeats to Real Madrid, bringing their campaign in that competition to a close for another year.

A year to look forward to

While the past season has been tough for the West London club, there are a few reasons why the coming season can be a very positive time to be a Chelsea fan.

Money spent

While things haven’t been going to plan, Chelsea have not been short of money to spend in the last year. With 16 signings amounting to £600 million being spent, it has been an unprecedented season in terms of incoming arrivals at Stamford Bridge. Most of these players have been young exciting signings, players like Mykhailo Mudryk, World Cup winner Enzo Fernández and central defender Wesley Fofana being the most notable. These signings spell both a want to win now attitude as well as being great players for years to come, with Chelsea hoping they can come into their own next season.

A New Manager

Another reason to be excited is Chelsea’s managerial hunt. It has been confirmed that Frank Lampard will only be in charge for the rest of this season, meaning that the summer will bring with it a managerial appointment. The list of top quality available managers is long, with Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino all without a job. It is expected to be one of these three that take the job, although the summer may bring with it a managerial merry go round, as many clubs look to bring in a fresh face in charge.

History repeating itself

This season will have a familiar ring to it for Chelsea fans, as the 2015/16 season was very similar. Chelsea parted company with club legend José Mourinho midway through that season before appointing Guus Hiddink as interim manager. Although this could only help them to a 10^th place finish in the Premier League. It was in the summer of 2016 that Chelsea then went onto appoint the Italian Antonio Conte. The man who helped them to win the Premier League title in his first season at the club, which is exactly what they will hope their appointment in the summer will be able to do.

Experience it with Ambro

There is a lot to be excited about for Chelsea going into the new season. Experience it with Ambro. We have hospitality packages available for every home game, guaranteeing a great service and experience.