The club which signed 16 top-class players to join those already there, the organisation that spent $740 million in a year to capture their fanbase’s imagination and the owner who has a thick wallet and a history of success in the sports industry: it’s a combination that seems fool-proof. And yet, Chelsea’s nightmare has lasted the entire season.Chelsea has won 24 points from their last 28 games. In fact, Leicester, who could be demoted this weekend, have won more over the same period. Although the Blues are in relegation form, some early points won under Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter will keep them in the Premier League, where we curiously await the next phase of their crazy project. Chelsea’s worst season: TrophylessArsenal’s best season in 20 years: Trophyless pic.twitter.com/3gvZQZrQE5— Hosey👑༒*☬ (@Hosey256) May 20, 2023 For all the talent they’ve got in their ranks, especially in attacking players, Chelsea have been struggling to do the business in the final third. In their last 31 games across all competitions, they have scored measly 22 goals. They’ve maintained dreadful form for a very long time. They will end the season with a negative goal difference for the first time since the 1994/95 season – unless Eddie Howe suddenly decides not to play a goalkeeper in place of the injured Nick Pope at Stamford Bridge.##NAJAVA_MECA_7283810##When the final game of the season kicks off on Sunday, Chelsea will be 27 points behind their opponents and 29 adrift of Manchester United to whom they lost 4-1 on Thursday night. The Blues are closer in points to the relegation zone than the top nine, which is horrific for the 2021 UEFA Champions League winners. They were the best team in Europe and arguably the best in the world mere two years ago. Now they will finish third in west London – below Brentford and Fulham.The Old Trafford misadventure saw the total number of Chelsea’s defeats for the season increase to 22. The team lost more matches only in one campaign – in 1978/1979 when they lost 29 times and were relegated from the top flight. They never thought they would compare their performance to that terrible season, but Todd Boehly’s reign has proved them wrong.Chelsea’s struggles should be a warning for us, emphasizes Ten Hag ahead of the Blues’ tieIt would be foolish to say that things couldn’t get worse because history has shown us many times there is always room for anything to get worse. However, one can’t help but think a guy like Mauricio Pochettino would be able to transform the club’s fortunes – and at least get them in the top half of the Premier League. Perhaps this season was only a blip in the tissue of the universe or something. Surely Mikhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Raheem Sterling and the many high-profile Chelsea recruits will remember they can actually play football pretty well.
