Reece James

Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last season, albeit a staggering 25 points behind second-placed Liverpool, and started life under a new manager with club legend Frank Lampard taking the reins. With a transfer ban impacting the west Londoners' business, and the Covid-19 pandemic causing unprecedented disruption mid-season, Chelsea finished the domestic season narrowly losing the FA Cup final to Arsenal. Despite the disappointment, a 4th place finish secured on the final day of the Premier League campaign guarantees the Blues will be playing Champions League football in the 2020/21 season.

'Making history, not reliving it.' That has been the mantra by which those at Stamford Bridge have lived and died since Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003. And as the final whistle blew on the final game of the season at the Estádio do Dragão in Portugal, history was made as Chelsea were once again crowned the kings of European football. The intentions of the club were clear from the start of the season, bringing in a host of top-class talent including Timo Werner and Kai Havertz from the Bundesliga, Hakim Ziyech from the Eredivisie, as well as defensive reinforcements in Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell. However all was not going to plan mid-season with inconsistent results and a managerial change suggesting this was going to be no more than a season of transition. But a spectacular turnaround, masterminded by the managerial nous of Thomas Tuchel, led to a top-four Premier League finish, an FA Cup final, and the greatest club prize of them all - the Champions League trophy.

In Thomas Tuchel's first full year in charge, the European champions became champions of the world, adding two more trophies to the collection and were sudden-death spot-kicks away from celebrating twice more. Bolstered by the continued emergence of Academy graduates and the returning Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea were a permanent fixture in the Premier League's top four. In the first of the three finals decided by penalty shoot-outs, the UEFA Super Cup was secured in Belfast while Kai Havertz was again the hero as the Blues captured the FIFA Club World Cup. Further silverware was so close, but Chelsea were twice denied by Liverpool. First, in a dramatic 21-goal shoot-out in the final of the Carabao Cup and then agonisingly again in the FA Cup Final. As the Roman Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge came to an end it was still a season of success, but also one of what could have been, although the Blues proved once again we are among the very best.

Sometimes football can deliver the most stinging surprises, but out of adversity emerge new heroes, new hope and new beginnings. An influx of exciting stars arrived at the Bridge including World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, dazzling Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, dynamic forward Noni Madueke and a future colossus at the back in Benoit Badashile, alongside fellow French international Wesley Fofana. These prodigious young talents joined the proven winners in the Chelsea squad, ready to create a potent mix for the next chapter in the club's glorious history. The 2022/23 season was not the one Chelsea fans wanted or expected, but the foundations have been laid for a swift return to future glories. Chelsea will be back, and a new era awaits. Containing action from every game of the season in all competitions, and an extended extra feature celebrating Cesar Azpilicueta's half century of appearances for the club.

Coming off the back of a disastrous 2022/23 season, Chelsea will be hoping for a fresh start this season under the management of Argentine Mauricio Pochettino. With no European football to look forward to, the focus will be firmly on the league and domestic cup competitions as an influx of exciting young footballers such as Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson will look to combine with last seasons signings of Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernández. With a number of experienced players leaving the club, hopes will be high that 2023/24 will start a turnaround in fortunes and goals - the latter being so sorely lacking last season.