Chelsea FC just finished a moderately successful season, winning the UEFA Europa League and finishing in the top four of the Premier League. The Blues also went to the final of the EFL Cup, where they took treble winners Manchester City to penalty kicks.
Heading into 2019-20, Blues supporters may have to redefine their expectations downward. Chelsea fans may have to continue defining success at a lower standard in ’20-’21; and maybe even beyond that too, given the perfect storm of negative factors that currently surround the club.
Their manager, Maurizio Sarri, is set to leave and take the open gig at Juventus. The revolving door that is the Chelsea managerial position will now continue spinning.
Sarri has had a stormy relationship, at times, with both those above and below him, at the club so maybe this is for the best that he departs after just season. Here is a list of five leading candidates to replace him.
Chelsea must also cope with the departure of their best player, Belgian winger Eden Hazard. The PFA Playmaker of the Year has all but confirmed that he’s off to to join Real Madrid. Replacing Hazard would be very difficult even in times good, or times normal.
In these times, it is literally impossible, as the west London side is facing a two window transfer ban. Stamford Bridge has appealed the decision, but no one can be assured that the transfer embargo will be reversed. The chances don’t look good, actually.
Meanwhile the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, is persona non grata within the United Kingdom, and can’t legally enter the country to work. He didn’t attend any of the road European matches this season either, and didn’t show up to watch his team play until a little over two weeks ago when they played the New England Revolution in a charity match.
Although Chelsea FC repeatedly deny it, rumors consistently swirl that Abramovich is looking to offload the club, but is having trouble trying to find a buyer.
Before the Russian oligarch took control of the team in 2003, they were in dire straits, and in the midst of a prolonged period where they hadn’t won much of anything.
It would be a little hyperbolic to say that the club could be headed back to those dark times soon, but uncertainty definitely surrounds Chelsea FC right now. The next season or two could be a rough ride.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.