Before Christmas, it wasn’t looking great for Chelsea. Frank Lampard’s appeal was wearing off and it seemed as if they would struggle to turn their good start into a solid campaign. By the end of the season, they managed to finish in the top four and win the Champions League, which isn’t a bad year’s work!
Obviously, the focus has turned to whether Thomas Tuchel and his squad can be title contenders in the Premier League in 2021/22 now that they are competing at the highest level. The reality is that they can be, but it won’t be easy in the toughest domestic league in the world.
Mentality Giants
Jurgen Klopp coined the term “mentality giants” when Liverpool were disposing of every team put in front of them a year or two ago. However, the phrase applies to Chelsea, too, as this side knows they can take on the likes of Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd and win.
Okay, they have only done it on one-off occasions so far, and Pep Guardiola has proven that he will tweak his setup to ensure his team is more competitive. Regardless, Tuchel’s boys are young and hungry, with several of them not yet peaking. That includes Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic, whom we have only seen in glimpses. If they remain fit, next season’s Chelsea squad will go into every fixture riding the crest of a wave.
Summer Investments
‘
If the EPL has highlighted anything in recent times, it’s that the right signings can propel a good side into a great one. Think of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker at Liverpool. While Tuchel has milked pretty much every ounce of potential out of his players, there will need to be more improvement when the league kicks off. That’s why the Premier League football odds rank Chelsea as the third favourites behind City and Liverpool.
After all, The Reds have activated Ibrahima Konaté’s release clause and look set to shore up their defensive line. Man City haven’t made any moves yet, but that’s inevitable considering Sergio Aguero has left. And Manchester United need at least three world-class additions, with Harry Kane and Raphael Varane rumoured to be on Solskjaer’s radar. If Chelsea aren’t active, the current European champions could get left behind as their rivals make significant strides forward.
Pressure
Something that hasn’t been considered is the pressure the team will be under next season. Coming in under the radar helped the Blues charge to the Champions League final, but the same dynamic won’t exist now that they are European champions. People will be expecting incredible things, and the players will have to stand up and be counted.
It’s tempting to believe that the youth element will leave the team a little short, yet the likes of Mason Mount have proven they are ready to play at this level. Plus, there are old pros like Thiago Silva who will know how to ease the pressure. It’s going to be a different campaign because there will be times they underachieve, and the players will have to put it behind them and bounce back. However, performing on the biggest stage, the Champions League, proves they have that quality running throughout the side.
The short answer is that Chelsea can win the Premier League title next season, but the squad will need to maintain their current level if they are going to beat Man City.
