Injury crisis or not, the status of Chelsea is on the line this season as performances by the squad players stepping in as back-up have not been good enough. With a top-four finish in the Premier League unlikely this season, what next for the Blues?
Is this the perfect time for them to worry more about next season than what is to come over the second half of this campaign? For Chelsea fans in London and other places there may yet be a silver lining ahead, according to bookmakers, like those recommended by a respectable analytical service Match Center.
Even though the results on the pitch haven't been too pleasing for the Stamford Bridge faithful, a rebuild could get them back on track.
What Can Chelsea Make of the Situation?
The injury crisis that has befallen Chelsea this season has meant that the depth of their squad has been exposed. It has not been good enough by any stretch. Certainly not for the status of the club and the money that has been invested.
They have looked devoid of energy, competitiveness and creativity. It suggests that recent silverware like their haul in 2021 of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, were papering over the cracks that were already appearing in the squad.
But the January transfer window gives the club a chance to have a clear-out and rebuild. It appears the perfect time for them to do so with little at stake in this campaign.
Is a Big Squad Shake Upcoming?
One clear issue is that current head coach Graham Potter seems to be working with players that he’s been told to work with. It’s not apparent that the Englishman has yet had the opportunity to mould Chelsea's squad to his liking in the transfer market.
The summer of 2022 saw the Blues bring in the likes of Raheem Sterling and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidiou Koulbbaly, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella. None of them has made a game-changing consistent contribution to the fortunes of the Blues. The most recent transfer policy has been a disaster.
So, a big shake-up could be the answer. Letting Potter, if they are keeping faith with him, get in on the transfer target round-table would be a huge benefit to the club.
Also looking ahead and getting young players like promising full-back Lewis Hall, Conor Gallagher, midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka and forward Armando Broja some playing time over the remainder of the season would be beneficial.
Even if they don’t become regular starters in the following campaign, the more time that they get under their belt, the better the squad depth will be. Chelsea will, more likely than not, go on a spending spree during 2023.
Invest Now Ahead of Summer Change
Changes are going to happen in the summer. Jorginho and N’golo Kante will likely leave the club. Veteran Thiago Silva’s future is uncertain at the Bridge. Loanees Denis Zakaria and Joao Felix should no longer be around.
The Blues definitely need an upgrade between the sticks with Kepa Arrizabalaga continuing to look unconvincing and Edouard Mendy appearing to have been nothing more than a one-season wonder.
Aubameyang looks dead-weight at the club, while Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling both look frustratingly indecisive in front of goal. The Chelsea attack needs a drastic makeover. The pieces of the solution can start to be put together ahead of a big summer clear-out.
Champions League Still a Target?
The Blues are out of the EFL Cup and the FA Cup early this season. They are, however, still in the mix for the UEFA Champions League. But given their status at the moment, that looks like a free hit.
Winning the title can’t be a realistic plan for them. It’s hard to picture owner Todd Boehly expecting Graham Potter to deliver the big European prize. There has to be a longer-term picture in place.
Chelsea are drawn against the free-scoring Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16. The fragile Blues defence and lack of scoring threat could be badly exposed in that tie.
Failure a Step to Success?
A realistic view of Chelsea’s 2022/23 campaign is that it is going to end without silverware and European football action next term. But a season away from the extra stresses of European football may not be a bad thing for the Blues’ rebuild.
It will cut down on their pressure next term, and even though missing the Champions League would be an important miss of finances, the club could get to a better place.
The history books point to that. Back in the 2015/16 Premier League season when Leicester produced their stunning title run, Chelsea ended the season in 10th place. It was a disastrous season for them on that front.
But a huge turnaround came around the following season. With no European fixtures to play, the Blues were able to mount a league title assault in a rebuild. Chelsea swept up the 2016/17 Premier League with a couple of matches to spare.
That was a huge bounce back from the Blues. It’s the same situation that they could be facing next term in the top flight. Players with fresher legs for the long haul of a Premier League title could be a huge benefit for them. The Blues, with the right strategy, can bear their claws once again.
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