Premier League 2024/25: Could Chelsea be title contenders?

Chelsea Football Club have faced a tumultuous period in the past two seasons, enduring a series of challenges that have led to failures by their usual high standards.

Since the takeover by the consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly in 2022, the Blues have experienced significant upheaval owing to managerial instability and a massive reshaping of the squad.

The ownership transition proved to be just the beginning of the chaotic period for Chelsea FC. Boehly’s consortium took control of the club with a fresh vision for the future. This included implementing a new transfer strategy, focusing heavily on youth talent and long-term squad development.

However, the shift towards this model led to a flurry of signings, many of them young players, as the club sought to revamp their squad and build for the future. Despite these investments, their men’s first team struggled to find consistency on the pitch (Chelsea Women have been doing just fine).

Chelsea experienced a challenging transitional period despite significant investment in the transfer market. Under Graham Potter, the first Chelsea boss appointed by Boehly and Co, the team under-performed and finished outside of European places in the 2022/23 season, leading to Potter’s dismissal well before the season ended.

The club then appointed Mauricio Pochettino for the 2023/24 season, having brought Frank Lampard back in the interim to see out the 2022/23 campaign, but Chelsea again fell short of securing a UEFA Champions League spot. Despite an uptick in performance and results in the second half of the 2023/24 season, Pochettino left the club after just one season.

At the start of the 2024/25 season, Chelsea faced a crucial decision and ultimately decided upon Enzo Maresca, who had been Leicester City for just a season but led them to promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking. He was previously an assistant of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The Italian manager has revitalised Chelsea, however, giving them a clear, aggressive playing style focused on attacking. Though the team started the season slowly, they have been in excellent form recently and have climbed to second place in the league, just two points off the leaders, Liverpool. Players like Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernández, and Moisés Caicedo have significantly improved under Maresca’s guidance, contributing to a strong winning run.

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The question of whether Chelsea are serious contenders for the 2024/25 Premier League title this season is now being debated, keeping in mind the relative inexperience of this team and their head coach.

It’s too early to make definitive conclusions about the title race, though. While Chelsea’s potential is clear, there are still many games left to play, making it premature to confidently say they can go all the way. The Premier League is highly competitive, with great talent spread across clubs well beyond the usual top six, making it hard to determine a definitive favourite.

However, Chelsea have several advantages. They are currently in strong form and boast the most robust squad compared to their direct rivals, which allows them to rotate players without weakening their line-up too much. Additionally, Chelsea have been fortunate with fewer injuries compared to teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man City. Their participation in the UEFA Europa Conference League is not a major distraction either, as the competition level is lower and allows them to field a second-string team and still secure positive results.

Another major factor is Man City’s drastic drop-off this season in addition to many other of the usual Big Six sides not producing consistent performances. The competition in the league is intense, with mid-table sides delivering exceptional performances and challenging the dominance of the top teams, so managing a continuous streak of wins is going to be difficult; more teams will stay in the mix rather than one team running away with the title early on this time round. 

Despite a strong showing thus far, Chelsea face a significant issue in their defence. While their attack and midfield have shown promise, their defensive vulnerabilities remain a key concern. The Blues defence has been exposed many times this season. While a strong forward line is crucial, relying solely on outscoring the opposition is not sustainable. A solid defence is very much a prerequisite for any title contention. Their first-choice goalkeeper, Robert Sánchez, is also a major concern and has been found wanting in many situations; he could cost Chelsea vital points as the season progresses. 

Enzo Maresca has done an excellent job with Chelsea thus far, with more positives than negatives. Given their current form, tactics, and squad depth, Chelsea are likely to be contenders for the 2024/25 Premier League title come May. Both Liverpool and Arsenal should be wary of the Blues.

Also read: Premier League 2024/25 Gameweek 16 Recap