Although there is a lot of talk about Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City this season, it is Chelsea that has consistently been one of the most successful English clubs this century. European titles have been won, while domestic trophies have also been held aloft on a regular basis.
Winning the expanded Club World Cup in the US this summer may have broken a drought, of sorts, but it also acted as a reminder that Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs on the planet and should be included in the conversation when it comes to the big competitions. But, if you are checking the US betting sites for soccer markets, what chance of glory do the Blues have this season?
With four trophies to play for, recent results and performances suggest that Chelsea should do well this season. Even with minor blips, like the draw away to Qarabag in the Champions League, Enzo Maresca has his squad focused on winning games – and has largely been rewarded. So, just how well can this Chelsea team do this season?
EFL Cup
It has been over 10 years since John Terry and Diego Costa scored the two second-half goals to help Chelsea beat Spurs at Wembley and record a fifth capture of the League Cup title. Even back then, the competition was regarded very much as a low priority until the later rounds and little has changed since.
If anything, the EFL Cup is now even more of a competition that many of the bigger clubs see as a chore. Winning a trophy at Wembley should always be the aim of every club, but it is unlikely that many Chelsea fans would be too sorry to see the side knocked out in the early rounds this season, if it meant an improved chance of winning one of the other trophies on offer.
FA Cup
There are plenty of Chelsea fans who would have the same view of the FA Cup as they do the League Cup. Gone are the days when the FA Cup was the trophy fans wanted their club to be winning. Its place in the history of the English game will always be assured, but its importance has definitely waned in recent years.
Chelsea is one of the most successful teams in the competition’s history, however, with six of the club’s triumphs coming this century. Modern fans will have plenty of good memories of finals in the last 20 years, and this should be a domestic cup that Chelsea wants to win. There is always a chance of glory, especially if some of the other big clubs in the Premier League decide to field much weakened sides in the earlier rounds.
Premier League
Arsene Wenger was pilloried in 2012 when he proclaimed that finishing in the top four was like winning a trophy. But, with six English clubs playing in the Champions League this season, and the money that comes into those clubs for that participation, it could be argued that the former Arsenal manager was just stating the obvious.
The idea that using the domestic league season purely as a means of qualifying for the Champions League is not one that most fans would agree with, but Chelsea missing out on the biggest continental competition in the last two years might have made a few think again. The honest truth is that, over the course of a season, it does feel like only Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool can really compete for the Premier League title at the moment. Chelsea is just a little too inconsistent to seriously challenge and probably won’t claim its first title since 2017 until it sorts out some basic issues.
Champions League
So, is it in the Champions League where Chelsea’s best chance of success really lies? Maybe not. But the expanded league format does give the Blues a better chance of progressing – and the knockout rounds offer potential in a way that a 38-game Premier League season does not.
The last two years aside, Chelsea’s recent Champions League history is pretty good. Since winning the competition in 2021, the Blues have only been knocked out at the quarterfinals stage. Results so far this season have been mixed. But with 11 points earning a playoff place last year, the club is well on course for reaching that stage at least.
There is a good possibility that Chelsea will qualify for the knockout rounds automatically – and that will give the club an even better chance of progressing further. There are better sides in the competition, but English clubs have a good record in recent years, and Chelsea can compete with anyone over a two-legged tie.
What Will Be a Successful Season for Chelsea?
Winning all four trophies on offer would obviously be the best possible outcome for Chelsea this year. With the Club World Cup already in the bag, that would surely place this team as one of the best in the history of the game. Realistically, however, Chelsea fans should probably temper their expectations.
Another Premier League title seems unlikely, and the two domestic cup competitions are not regarded as high priorities these days. Winning the FA Cup would still be enjoyable, however, so lifting that trophy and doing well in the Champions League is probably what the coaches, players, and fans should be working towards.
It could be argued that Chelsea is still a club in transition, with Enzo Maresca working out which players will push the team forward most effectively. This could still be regarded as a successful campaign if the club wins no trophies at all but challenges and competes in the most important. Hopefully, it will also end with at least one new honour added to the list, though.