With the January transfer window finally over, Enzo Maresca is looking forward to the second half of the season with a much more compact squad following several high-profile departures. One player who somewhat surprisingly made the move away from Stamford Bridge, was João Félix. The departures of the likes of Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei were not entirely surprisingly with each player being allowed to leave in search of regular game time or brand-new starts. However, Félix’s move to Italian giants AC Milan was a bit more staggering and also raised serious questions about why the 25-year-old was signed to begin with.
Will Enzo Fernández Resist Real?
With the clock quickly counting down in the January transfer window, the rumour mill is rife with speculation and as always, Chelsea find themselves right in the middle of all sorts of potential moves, both in and out of the club. With the likes of Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Renato Veiga all looking for an exit from Stamford Bridge in search of regular minutes, and the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Mathys Tel being heavily linked with a move to London, Chelsea’s transfer window is far from over.
Does a Move for Garnacho Make Sense?
As always with Chelsea, the January transfer window is an incredibly busy period of activity for the club, and whilst moves have been minimal so far, with Chelsea mainly looking to get a few players out of the door, one rumour has persisted all month – that of Chelsea making a surprise move for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.
Should Chelsea Cash In on Christopher Nkunku?
Christopher Nkunku signed for the Blues back in the summer of 2023, and was a forward with a very strong reputation, having enjoyed a fantastic period in Germany with RB Leipzig. A graduate of PSG’s youth academy, Nkunku’s reputation was growing among Europe’s elite, and it was seen of something a coup for Chelsea to snap him up for a fee of approximately £52million.
Pedro Neto – The Forgotten Flop?
Pedro Neto joined Chelsea in the latest summer transfer window, signing for a reported fee of £51.3million from Wolverhampton Wonderers. The move seemingly came from nowhere and added significant fire power to Chelsea’s wide options. The Portuguese had shown signs of brilliance during his time in the Premier League previously, but had struggled with injuries and consistency. A move to a bigger club like Chelsea was seen as the natural next step in his career, but the move has flattered to deceive so far.
Nicolas Jackson – What’s Happened?
Nicolas Jackson enjoyed a stellar start to the Premier League season, smashing home eight goals in his first 12 appearances, alongside three assists. Chelsea were suddenly finding themselves as unlikely title challengers, and Jackson’s link up play with Cole Palmer was proving far too formidable for many Premier League teams.
Chelsea’s January Transfer Window – What to Expect
Chelsea go into the January transfer window sitting 4th in the Premier League, and have been exceeding expectations so far this season. However, a small dip in form across the last three games has seen them go from unlikely title challengers to top four contenders in a matter of days. That being said, the Blues are still on for a very successful winning, and are heavy favourites to win the UEFA Conference League.
As the January transfer window gets underway, the Blues are likely to be heavily involved in deals – both in and out – as Enzo Maresca looks to navigate the second half of the season successfully, and continue the early momentum he has built so far.
Outgoings Predicted
Maresca has done a fantastic job managing a very large squad so far this season – earning plaudits for his use of the cup competitions to give fringe players important game time, alongside introducing academy prospects and keeping his primary squad fit and fresh for the more challenging Premier League games.
Despite that, Chelsea still have a handful of players on their books who they are looking to get rid of sooner rather than later. The biggest name is that of Ben Chilwell – an important member of the Champions League winning team of 2021. However since then, Chilwell has struggled with injuries, form and the surprising rise of Marc Cucurella.
Still only 28, Chilwell still has plenty of years ahead of him but it has been made clear that Maresca has no place for him in his squad. Even with Cucurella was suspended against Everton recently, Maresca opted to play Malo Gusto as an inverted fullback over the England international. A move to Juventus has been rumoured, but reports suggest that Chelsea are struggling to shift the left back, who earns an alleged £190,000 per week.
Alongside Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka is likely to be looking for a new club after failing to establish himself in Maresca’s plans following various injury problems. The 21-year-old has high levels of potential, but may find he needs a move to re-ignite his career, with West Ham strongly linked. Chelsea invested £20million into the Austrian-born talent, and will be looking to make a profit on him should a permanent transfer become available.
Finally, the likes of Harvey Vale, Cesare Casadei, Alex Matos and Renato Veiga may also be allowed to leave in search of more regular game time as Maresca looks to fine tune his squad going into the second half of the season.
Potential Incomings
Whilst Maresca has long said he’s happy with his squad, the recent controversy and suspension of Mykhailo Mudryk has lead to Chelsea looking light in the wide areas. With Cole Palmer and João Félix battling it out for the number 10 spot, Chelsea could use another winger coming in – even just on a short-term solution – in order to boost their ranks for the FA Cup and Conference League in the second half of the season. Leroy Sané, formerly of Manchester City, has been rumoured.
With Wesley Fofana now likely to miss the remainder of the season, Chelsea are set to be looking into a right-sided central defender to partner Levi Colwill. With Axel Disasi still proving to be more of a liability than an option, Chelsea are said to be looking to resign the impressive Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace. Newcastle were heavily linked with the 24-year-old England defender last summer but a move failed to materialise. Guéhi came through the Cobham academy, but has found his form at Selhurst Park and an £80million return to Stamford Bridge is being heavily rumoured.
Chelsea have been incredibly, and infamously, active in recent transfer windows, but with Maresca trying to find the right balance with the squad he currently has, whilst also looking to achieve more stability throughout the club, this upcoming transfer window is likely to be one of the quieter ones for the Blues, with outgoings likely to be the major moves.
The Curious Case of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Going against most pre-season expectations and predictions, Chelsea suddenly find themselves as potential title challengers following an excellent start to the season. Currently 2nd in the Premier League, Enzo Maresca is presently defying all odds by propelling the Blues to an unlikely Premier League title assault, in what could prove to be an excellent season for the Londoners.
A Brief History of Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge – Chelsea’s only ever home – has been the Blues’ stadium since their formation in 1905. Since then, their Fulham-based home has gone through countless changes, renovations, modernisations and developments in its long history. From FA Cup finals to NFL games, the London home has been a valuable asset to both the city and the Blues.
Predating the Blues
Stamford Bridge existed long before Chelsea were founded, originally built in 1877, almost 30 years prior to Chelsea’s existence. In these early years, it was used as the home of ‘London Athletic Club’ and this was its main use. A running track circled the pitch, and other typical athletics pitches and tracks formed the foundation of the stadium.
However, in 1904, brothers Gus and Joseph Mears acquired the stadium with a dream of a professional football club calling it home. Originally, it was offered to Fulham FC, who were unable to move in due to financial constraints. Instead, Chelsea were founded to call the stadium home, and a rivalry with Fulham was formed that would last over 100 years.
Ever since then, Chelsea have played their home games in SW6 and have not looked back, being one of the few remaining Premier League teams to still play their home games at their original home.
Stamford Bridge by the Stats
Over the past 120 years, Stamford Bridge has seen its capacity go up and down, the stands change and the pitch surroundings alter many times. Some of its standout moments include:
- Record Capacity – 82,905 – Chelsea vs Arsenal, 1935.
- Current Capacity – 40,341.
- It has hosted numerous other sports including cricket, NFL, greyhound racing and both rugby league and rugby union.
- The famous ‘Shed End’ was demolished in 1994 as a response to issues related to fan standing following the Hillsborough disaster.
- Stamford Bridge hosted the FA Cup final between 1920 and 1922, before being replaced by the Old Wembley Stadium.
- Stamford Bridge last hosted an International Match in 2013, playing host to a 1-1 draw between Brazil and Russia.
London’s Legacy
Whilst Stamford Bridge has never been the biggest or most flashy stadia when comparing it to Manchester United’s Old Trafford, or Liverpool’s Anfield, it has developed an outstanding legacy in London and is one of the city’s finest landmarks.
Since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003, Stamford Bridge went from a mid-tier Premier League stadium to a modern powerhouse within London. The trophies have flooded in, and the state of the art innovations to both Stamford Bridge and Cobham have directly coincided to Chelsea’s success on the pitch.
In recent years, the hotels attached to Stamford Bridge were open to NHS staff to say at for free during the Covid-19 pandemic, helping critical members of staff during an unprecedented time. When fans were banned from the stadium during the outbreak, Stamford Bridge also turned into a pop-up vaccine centre, helping fight the Covid virus during the cold winter months.
Long-Term Future in Doubt
Across the past decade, Chelsea have been heavily rumoured to be looking for a new home, desiring a larger stadium to bring up to speed with the other major UK clubs, whilst also allowing them to create a modern powerhouse of a stadium – akin to Tottenham’s new stadium.
Whilst developments are slow, and potential new homes or locations are constantly discussed and dismissed, it remains to be seen what the long-term future of Stamford Bridge will be. But for now, Chelsea’s Men and Women’s team will continue to call the Fulham Road stadium home and it will undoubtedly play host to numerous more entertaining spectacles for fans.
Can Jadon Sancho Rediscover His Spark?
Jadon Sancho was a surprise summer transfer to West London, joining Chelsea on a season-long loan from rivals Manchester United, with an obligation to buy him for a reported fee of only £23million.
Sheffield United vs Chelsea F.C. Stats: The Highlights
Sheffield United, often considered one of the founders of English football, have a mammoth history dating back to 1889, when they were founded as an offshoot of Sheffield United Cricket Club. Since then, they’ve enjoyed various spells in the topflight and have come up against Chelsea over 80 times. We take a look at the key Sheffield United vs Chelsea F.C. stats to accompany our timeline of the two clubs’ meetings.
The Early 1900s
You would have to go back to before the First World War for the first time Chelsea and Sheffield United came up against each other, with Sheff Utd coming up as 4-2 winners in 1907. Ever since then, results have largely gone back forth but Chelsea do hold the greater record, especially over the past few decades.
Chelsea have been victorious 42 times against the Blades, whereas the Sheffield outfit have enjoyed success a few more times, with 28 victories against the Blues. There have also been 17 draws spread out over the last century and more, including many memorable ties at Stamford Bridge and Bramall Lane.
Record Wins
Chelsea’s heaviest win over the Blades is surprisingly before the Premier League and Abramovich era, and can be dated back to the 1961-62 season, where Chelsea ran out 6-1 winners. However, this win was in vain as Chelsea ended up getting relegated that season, finishing bottom of the old League One, ending a 32-year-old stay in the top tier of English football.
Conversely, Sheff Utd’s biggest victory over Chelsea came all the way back in the 1907-08 season, their first meeting – although this score has been repeated several times.
The Premier League Era
Unsurprisingly, given the incomparable levels of investment in either team, and Chelsea’s multiple Premier League and Champions League titles since the rebranding of the top division of English football for the 1992-93 season, Chelsea’s record over Sheff Utd has been very strong.
Chelsea have enjoyed success against the Blades in six of their 12 Premier League meetings, drawing twice and losing on four separate occasions to the Yorkshire club. Their last meeting in the Premier League was in the 2023-24 season, as the two teams played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane. The season eventually saw Sheff Utd relegated from the Premier League, whereas Chelsea finished 6th under Mauricio Pochettino.
Shared Players
Over the seasons, there has not been much transfer activity between the two clubs and only 12 players have pulled on the jersey for both teams. Most recently, Alfie Gilchrist joined the Blades on a season-long loan from the Blues and has enjoyed a very productive season so far for the Championship side as they look for promotion back to the top-flight.
Looking back, Chelsea legend Gary Cahill enjoyed a solitary season in Sheffield back in 2007, whereas Nigel Spackman and Graham Stuart both enjoyed productive periods for both teams.
Chelsea and Sheffield United will not ever be considered great rivals, or even particularly related footballing teams when looking at their head-to-head record and players who have played for both sides. However, they are two of the oldest teams and most well-known clubs in English football and will enjoy many more battles to come in future seasons.
Does Noni Madueke Deserve to Keep His Spot in Chelsea’s Starting XI?
Noni Madueke enjoyed a stellar start to the 2024-25 season, being thrusted into Enzo Maresca’s first choice team and making the right wing spot his own across the first 12 games of the Premier League season. However, his performance level has dipped in recent games, and questions are being asked about whether he still warrants an almost ‘guaranteed’ starting spot as we enter the busy winter period.
Silencing Wolverhampton
Madueke’s highlight of the season had undoubtedly been his excellent hattrick away at Wolves. The 22-year-old lead Chelsea to an emphatic 6-2 win at Molyneux, and this win really kick-started Chelsea’s season after an indifferent start – providing Maresca with his first win.
The hattrick immediately repaid Maresca’s faith in Madueke, who had flattered to deceive throughout his Chelsea career prior to this performance. However, the Barnet-born winger has cemented his spot in Chelsea’s team since then, appearing in 11 out of 12 Premier League games, contributing four goals with no assists. His hattrick was a key moment in Chelsea’s season so far, and was largely seen as the performance which helped implement Maresca’s philosophy into this young team, and gave Blues fans a glimpse of what this team can do moving forward.
Inconsistency, Competition and Rotation
Since that superb day in the Midlands, however, Madueke’s performance level has dipped, and many Blues are beginning to question Maresca’s loyalty to him. Firstly, contributing zero assists as a winger, when considering the number of minutes Madueke has clocked up, indicates that something is missing from his all-round game. Madueke is not creating the opportunities to provide for his team mates, and is instead often found shooting from outside the box – averaging 3.1 shots per game, as per WhoScored.
Whilst a willingness to shoot on goal is something that has been missing from Chelsea’s team in recent years, Madueke needs to improve his team awareness and instead prioritise and choose the opportunities to shoot, but also the right opportunities to find that key pass to set up a team member.
Aside from individual performances, the form of Madueke’s competitors is making his starting role in the starting lineup harder and harder to justify. Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk are all vying for a starting spot on the right wing, with the number 10 role permanently occupied by the outstanding Cole Palmer. All have enjoyed good moments this season but suffer from consistency issues too. Should any of the wingers begin to pick up real momentum, Madueke may find himself on the bench sooner rather than later.
Key Months Ahead
Madueke has likely done enough to maintain his spot in the starting line up for now, especially with Sancho’s recent injury and illness issues. However, after Neto’s starring role in the recent 1-1 draw with Arsenal, and the games coming thick and fast over the festive period, Madueke will have to improve at both ends of the pitch in order to maintain Maresca’s trust, and not be relegated to his ‘B team’.
Can Chelsea’s Youngsters Challenge for the Title?
We are now 12 games into the Premier League season, and the league table is slowly taking shape. The relegation contenders are already scrapping for vital points towards the bottom of the table, whereas the fight for the top four is becoming increasingly more congested.
Where Does Enzo Fernandez Go From Here?
Enzo Fernández has been one of Chelsea’s marquees signings under the Clearlake Capital era, signing for a reported fee of approximately £106million in January 2023. Fernández had been a key part of the Argentina World Cup winning squad and was poised to be installed into the Chelsea midfield for the long term, adding deep lying creativity and a box-to-box presence to the middle of the pitch.
Was Nicolas Jackson a Bargain for the Blues?
Chelsea spent the majority of the recent summer transfer window being persistently linked with a new number 9. The likes of Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen were heavily touted to be close to making a move to Stamford Bridge, however a move failed to materialise for both. Chelsea were thought to be heading into the new season quite light upfront, with only Spanish youngster Marc Guiu, arriving from Barcelona, to boost the striking department whilst Romelu Lukaku finally ended his Chelsea nightmare by moving to Napoli.
This meant Chelsea went into the 2024-25 season with only Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku as recognised number 9s in Enzo Maresca’s squad, and fans and pundits alike were quick to point out that this might be the difference between a successful or wasted season for the Blues.
A Mixed Debut Season
Jackson endured a mixed first season in London during the 2023-24 campaign, he contributed a respectable 14 goals across 35 Premier League games under Mauricio Pochettino, alongside five assists. On paper, this is a more than reasonable return for the young striker’s first season in England, after making the move from Villarreal.
However, the initial returns only tell half of the story of Jackson’s debut campaign. Whilst there were highlights, such as the hattrick against Spurs, there were also some very frustrating moments for the Senegalese international.
Jackson’s unreliability upfront was becoming more and more apparent, especially in the first half of the season, where he was guilty of missing several guilt-edge chances, and appeared to be lacking the holdup play typically required by a striker in the Premier League. Alongside this, his touch was also often rash, and he accumulated a high number of yellow cards due to ill-discipline, leading to many suggestions he lacked the character and maturity to lead a top four chasing team. As the season ended, Chelsea fans were left with mixed opinions of the 23-year-old.
Jackson Establishing Himself Under Maresca
Despite all his first season worries, Jackson was also quickly developed something of a cult following at Stamford Bridge, with his passion and determination to succeed ever apparent. Coming into the new season, Jackson enjoyed a productive pre-season and was quickly confirmed as Maresca’s chosen man to lead the line.
This has proved to be a very fruitful decision so far, with Jackson racing to six goals in nine games so far, alongside three assists. He’s developing a very promising relationship with Cole Palmer, and Jackson’s all-round game is improving week after week, with delicate touches and intricate link up play becoming a common characteristic of his game.
All of a sudden, the cries for a reliable and high-profile number nine have begun to die down, and Jackson is starting to look like a bargain at only £32million. Surprisingly, he recently became the 5th fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals for Chelsea, and whilst we’re still in the early stages of the season, Jackson’s game is developing very quickly and he could be the striker to lead the line at Stamford Bridge for years to come.
Is João Félix a Square Peg in a Round Hole at Chelsea?
When João Félix made a somewhat surprising return to Chelsea in the recent summer transfer window, it was met with mixed reactions at Stamford Bridge. So far this season, the Portuguese international has shown glimpses of brilliance, but has failed to cement a regular starting spot in Enzo Maresca’s Premier League team.
After a stuttering career so far, which has been remarkably reflected in his brief and inconsistent return to Chelsea so far, it remains to be seen how far Félix can go in Chelsea blue, and what this season holds for him.
The Transfer Merry-Go-Round
The circumstances which eventually brought Félix to Chelsea were bizarre to say the least. After a summer of speculation between Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, Connor Gallagher had seemingly made the move to the Spanish capital, with Samu Omorodion set to make the move to London as part of the deal – a move seemingly swept in the need to satisfy various profit and sustainability rules for both teams.
However, the move for Omorodion fell through, with the striker eventually ending up at Porto. With Atlético still pushing hard for a move for Gallagher, Chelsea instead turned their attentions to Félix, who’d spent the previous season on loan at Barcelona. With the weeks of the window rapidly closing, Chelsea eventually struck a deal to sign the still-only 24-year-old for a nominal fee of approximately £42million – a move largely seen as a bargain, when considering the obvious talent the Portuguese international does possess.
London Looms Once more
Félix was no stranger to Stamford Bridge, having spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Chelsea. This was during one of Chelsea’s most tumultuous spells in recent years, following the sacking of Graham Potter, club legend Frank Lampard was overseeing a dismal spell of results, with all Chelsea fans just wanting the season to be over.
Félix endured a mixed spell during this time, getting sent off on his debut against Fulham after showing some remarkable touches, before inconsistently seeing out the remainder of the season. As Félix has done throughout his whole career, he showed moments of brilliance and a delicate touch, alongside disappearing from matches completely. It was hardly the showing of a man who was once touted as the next Lionel Messi and has accumulated over £150million in transfer fees in his fledgling career so far.
Palmer Continuing to Shine
Returning to Chelsea for the 2023-2024 season, one of the main issues with Félix is that it still seems no one knows exactly where his best position is. Incapable of leading the line completely as a number 9 but not quite possessing the speed to be a pacy winger capable of outpacing the Premier League’s best fullbacks, where Félix’s best position remains up in the air.
So far this season, Félix has been deployed in the number 10 role predominantly, linking midfield to attack and bringing the wingers into play through intricate linkup play.
This is where Félix can be most impactful, with his trickery, vision and creativity at the forefront and where any defensive responsibilities are minimal. Whilst he could flourish in this position at Chelsea, and perhaps in another era would be able to, there is currently one big problem in Félix’s way at Chelsea, that being the astounding talent of Cole Palmer. Palmer is currently the first player on Maresca’s team sheet, and only an injury or suspension will see him not starting a game.
So far this season, Palmer has continued to flourish in the number 10 role, having been mostly used out wide under Mauricio Pochettino. That leaves Félix a very daunting task, either dislodge Palmer from the starting eleven, or settle for a role in Chelsea’s ‘B-team’ and continue to impress in the cup competitions and grasp his chance in the Premier League he can, whenever that time may come.
Can Cole Palmer Eclipse Eden Hazard at Chelsea?
When Chelsea signed Cole Palmer from Manchester City for a ‘nominal’ fee of around £40million, it was seen as something of a coup. Relatively unknown, but heralded as a prodigal talent, one who may better the talents of the likes of Phil Foden, Palmer arrived at Stamford Bridge somewhat under the radar.
After another transfer window of lavish spending on young talents from across Europe, the Wythenshawe raised attacking midfielder was signed late on in the 2023 summer transfer window and wasn’t expected to become an immediate starter for the Blues.
Stand-off With Pep
Palmer was reportedly pushing for a starting role at Manchester City before his transfer to London. With only a handful of appearances under his belt, the majority of which coming in the cup competitions, patience was wearing out for the young star. Then, prior to Palmer joining Chelsea, Man City made the decision to sign Jérémy Doku for around £60million – further pushing Palmer down the pecking order.
Reportedly, Palmer was told to either stay and fight for his place and accept only being a squad player by the legendary Pep Guardiola or leave permanently. Palmer didn’t want to consider a loan move, to then find himself in a similar situation. From here, Chelsea came calling and Palmer hasn’t looked back since.
Accolades Aplenty
Since making the move to London, Palmer’s success and importance to Chelsea cannot be understated and he’s now the first name on the team sheet and has seen a rise from talented potential at Man City, to Ballon d’Or nominee in the space of a little over 12 months. In 41 league appearances so far for Chelsea, the 22-year-old has notched up 28 goals and 16 assists alongside countless man-of-the-match awards and, unsurprisingly, was Chelsea’s player of the year for the 2023-24 season.
Palmer has also scored in a European final for England, albeit on the losing side, and is likely to be one of the first names on Thomas Tuchel’s team sheet for the new England manager’s reign. With such high levels of success so early in his career, and the potential to go even further, Chelsea fans have began making natural comparisons to former Blues hero, Eden Hazard.
Can Palmer Top the Belgian?
Hazard enjoyed a stellar Chelsea career and is rightly considered as one of Stamford Bridge’s best ever players. Lighting up the Premier League with countless performances and winning matches on his own at times, Hazard had was largely seen to be irreplaceable at Stamford Bridge, and various attempts since have failed (see Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech).
But despite all the ridicule of Chelsea’s recent transfer activity, it does look like they’ve unearthed a gem who could go on to be a Chelsea legend for the next decade. Still only 22, Palmer does seem to have the world at his feet and can go on to eclipse Hazard’s legacy at Stamford Bridge. Blues fans will be praying that Palmer can help return top trophies to Stamford Bridge, starting in Maresca’s first season.
The only question is whether Palmer has the longevity and consistency to match Hazard’s illustrious seven-year spell in London, but the early signs are more than promising.
What Next for Nkunku at Stamford Bridge?
Following on from an injury-hit debut season, many expected the 2024-25 season to be the campaign where Christopher Nkunku becomes the number nine Chelsea have been calling out for since Diego Costa’s departure. The Frenchman enjoyed a productive pre-season campaign, and the Stamford Bridge faithful were fully expecting him to be a key part of Enzo Maresca’s debut season. However, things haven’t quite worked out for the 26-year-old just yet, and the rumours are beginning to swirl about a potential departure.
Relegated to Maresca’s ‘B Team’
Thus far this season, Maresca has seemingly decided on two completely different starting 11s – one for the Premier League, and one for the European Conference League and domestic cups. So far, Nkunku has only started one Premier League fixture – the opening day defeat to defending Champions Manchester City. Since then, Nkunku has been demoted to the cup team alongside the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Cesare Casadei.
Understandably, the man who cost Chelsea a reported £52million, doesn’t want to be in the second-string team and should be leading the Blues in the Premier League’s biggest games. Maresca has made it clear that his two teams are not separate, and that chances will be given throughout the season to those who deserve it. The question is whether Nkunku has the patience to wait for more consistent opportunities.
I’m Sorry Nick Jackson
The primary cause of Nkunku’s bit-part contributions so far this season, is down to the fine form of Nicholas Jackson. Heavily scrutinised in his debut season, parts of which were justifiable, Jackson has enjoyed a fantastic start to the campaign – netting five goals alongside three assists so far for the Blues.
Maresca’s early faith in Jackson has been scrutinised by the Stamford Bridge faithful, with many crying out for Nkunku to be given the starting role leading his attacking line. However, the perseverance with the Senegalese international has been richly rewarded so far, with Jackson developing into a much more complete centre forward and being pivotal to Maresca’s rapid front line. If Nkunku is waiting to displace Jackson, he’ll be hoping for a down-turn in form from the 23-year-old.
What do the Stats Say?
Despite Nkunku’s stop-start season so far, his return when on the pitch has been very productive. He netted a key winner away at Bournemouth when coming off the bench, securing a vital three points for the Blues. In the cups, he fired home an impressive hattrick on home turf versus Barrow, and whilst that won’t be the calibre of opponent Nkunku is looking to impress against, you can only score against who you are playing.
In Europe, Nkunku scored – what ended up being – two pivotal goals in the qualifying rounds against Swiss side Servette. He then followed this up with a goal in the 4-2 victory over Gent, helping to start Chelsea’s European campaign with a win. If Nkunku can continue this fine form in the cups, his knocks on Maresca’s door will become harder and harder to ignore.
Rumours have been circulating about Nkunku looking for an exit from London, with a potential return to PSG being mentioned. However, with the games starting to come thick and fast over the winter period, the Frenchman will get his opportunities to shine under the lights at Stamford Bridge and show the world just how lethal a finisher he can be.
Has Maresca Finally Decided on his Starting Chelsea XI?
For the first time in several seasons, it is finally beginning to look like Chelsea have a set starting XI, a preferred unit for Enzo Maresca to work with in the league. The Blues are five games into the Premier League season and certain players are beginning to look like regulars for the new-look Chelsea team this season, whilst others are having to settle for places on the bench, and for minutes in the cup competitions.
The Backline
Robert Sánchez put in a man-of-the-match performance in the recent win away at Bournemouth and looks set to continue being Chelse’s main man between the sticks, despite the summer arrival of Filip Jörgensen.
Ahead of the Spaniard, Reece James is expected to start at right back after his most recent injury nightmare ends, with Malo Gusto a more than able deputy. The preferred centre back pairing is shaping out to be Wesley Fofana alongside Cobham’s own, Levi Colwill. Despite the likes of Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo waiting in the wings, Fofana and Colwill started every Premier League game so far, and are beginning to form a formidable partnership, with back to back away clean sheets.
Finally, Euros winner Marc Cucurella has made the left back spot his own following a fantastic summer and a good start to the 24-25 season. Despite Ben Chilwell failing to get a move away in the summer, he looks set to be second, or even possibly third fiddle for the left-hand side of the defence – with Renato Veiga substituting in during the cup competitions so far.
The £200million Midfield
In the heart of the midfield, the duo of Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández look set to be deployed in the pivot providing the Blues with enough steal and craft in the heart of the pitch. Summer arrival Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, alongside fit-again Roméo Lavia will substitute in when Maresca needs to freshen things up.
Ahead of the more defensive-minded duo, Chelsea have an embarrassment of riches in the attacking department. Cole Palmer will spearhead the three behind the striker following his amazing debut season, as he continues to look like a steal at just £42.5million. On the wings, hattrick hero Noni Madueke is currently favoured on the right-hand side, with his Arjen Robben-like habit of cutting in onto his left and a great eye for goal, Maresca certainly seems to be favouring the 22-year-old.
The left-hand side, however, appears to be a little more up for grabs. Summer signings Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho have both started there in recent weeks, whilst the frustrating figure of Mykhailo Mudryk is still determined to breakthrough, despite recent suggestions that he’s looking for a move out of the club in January.
Maresca hinted that Sancho will be his preferred starter there, with Neto set to be Madueke’s rival on the right. However, it is likely that all four players will chop and change quite often throughout the season, whilst João Félix has the unenviable task of trying to dislodge Palmer from the midfield.
Jackson Leads the Line
Regardless of some harsh criticism during his time at Stamford Bridge, Nicholas Jackson has enjoyed a very productive start to the season, continuing his fine form by netting twice and registering one assist in the victory over West Ham. Many Chelsea fans have been pleading for Christopher Nkunku to be given a regular starting birth upfront, but if Jackson continues to deliver, it’ll be the Frenchman who must settle for the number two spot.
As the season progresses, it’ll be interesting to see how Maresca chops and changes his starting XI to handle the Premier League alongside all cup competitions, with every player likely to be given enough opportunity to prove their spot in the starting lineup. Perhaps even the likes of Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei could even force their way into the starting eleven when injuries and suspensions begin to mount up.
With Maresca enjoying a good start to life in the Premier League, it’s refreshing to see a starting lineup that is looking somewhat settled, after the vast amount of rotation and injuries in recent seasons, and hopefully this can be the start of Chelsea’s charge back into the top four.
Can Pedro Neto Finally Fill Eden Hazard’s Boots?
For the past 5 years, Chelsea have been looking for a superstar to replace the Eden Hazard shaped hole in their first eleven. Hazard enjoyed seven hugely successful years at Stamford Bridge, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world during his time in London. Lighting up the Premier League in a way that few Chelsea players have since the time of Gianfranco Zola, the eloquent Belgian finally moved to Real Madrid in 2019, leaving a huge hole in their attack that has yet to be replaced.
The Champions League Winners
Surprisingly, Hazard was not part of either Chelsea team to win the Champions League – joining in the summer after the Blues’ heroic 2012 win in Munich and departing two years before Kai Havertz scored the winner in Porto.
However, it is in this 2021 squad where Chelsea were deep into their efforts to replace Hazard. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic were all deployed on the left-wing at times and all contributed strongly to that night in Porto, but none of them could make the spot their own. Inconsistent performance along with a lack of individual match winning performances that Hazard so often provided, lead to Chelsea continuing their search over the more recent seasons.
Boehly’s Big Adventure
Since the change of ownership when to Todd Boehly and Behdad Egbhali took over at Stamford Bridge, they have spent lavishly on trying to improve the squad, and once again attempting to replace the illustrious Belgian.
Infamously, Mykhailo Mudryk was signed for close to €100million along with a whole host of attacking talent. However, none are yet to become the world class talents that Chelsea so needs to compete for the top tier of trophies once more. Even Raheem Sterling, a four times Premier League winner, failed to fill the void and was quickly ousted from the squad in 2024.
In the most recent summer, Chelsea were once again embarking on a lavish spending spree in a bid to replace the Belgian, and provide that much needed spark on the left hand side of the pitch. Enter Pedro Neto.
A Portuguese Prodigy
Signed from Wolves for a reported fee of £51.3million, Chelsea’s signing of Neto came very much out of the blue, announced from nowhere. Largely seen as a rare hit for the Chelsea transfer department, Neto has a wealth of Premier League experience already thanks to his five seasons in the midlands. His talent can’t be questioned, and he’s shown glimpses of breathtaking play during his time in the Premier League so far, however questions remain over his fitness.
Much like Reece James, Neto has endured repeated spells on the sidelines over the past half a decade, and it does raise the question as to why Chelsea invested such a large fee in a risky player. Neto’s first few weeks at Stamford Bridge have already been stop-start, with his minutes being carefully managed by Enzo Maresca. If Neto can enjoy an injury free season and make the left wing his own, his partnership with Cole Palmer in the number 10 role and Noni Madueke on the right wing, could be an emphatic attacking force for Chelsea.
Neto has the speed, trickery, confidence and eye for the spectacular that could see him finally replace Hazard to become a Stamford Bridge legend in his own right. But whether he can stay fit and make the step up to next level in his career, remains to be seen.
Captain. Leader. Legend: A Timeline of Chelsea’s Premier League Captains
Since the creation of the Premier League for the 1992-93 season, Chelsea have been one of the six mainstays in the league to have never been relegated. Over the past three decades, the Blues have endured highs and lows, and a host of captains to guide them through the best league in the world. In this article, we look at the various characters and leaders who’ve guided Chelsea FC as captain to both countless trophies, and some harrowing defeats.
Townsend Kicks off the Naughty Nineties
Chelesa’s first Premier League captain came in the form of Andy Townsend, who led from the final season of the old Division One, into the new era of English football. Chelsea failed to win anything significant under his direction, but he did go on to make over 100 appearances for the Blues and he helped steady the ship in football’s new dawn.
From there, one Dennis Wise took over the mantle of Chelsea FC captain, and would go on to be one of the most well respected and revered captains that Stamford Bridge has even seen. Controlling the team from 1993 until 2001, Wise was the pinnacle of a leader and helped Chelsea to an FA Cup win in 2000, alongside the League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and UEFA Super Cup in 1998.
The Age of Abramovich
Before Roman Abramovich’s arrival, Chelsea were lead by the steely Frenchman Marcel Desailly from 2001 until 2004. The Frenchman made over 150 league appearances for the Blues during his time in London and is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s finest ever defenders. His professionalism and class were seen during his period of captaincy and was part of the team that one the FA Cup in 2000 under Wise.
However, the winds of change were swirling at Stamford Bridge when Abramovich arrived, and under José Mourinho, one John Terry would be named Chelsea FC captain, replacing the departing Desailly. Stamford Bridge’s finest, and Chelsea’s greatest ever captain and defender, Terry would captain the team from 2004 until 2017 and be an integral part of the trophy winning machine alongside messrs Frank Lampard, Petr Čech and Didier Drogba.
The Core Moves On
The heart of Chelsea’s best ever trophy winning period was never going to last forever, and it was finally time for the likes of Terry to hang up his boots and pass the armband onto one of his best defensive partners, Gary Cahill. A truly daunting task, Cahill stepped up to the plate emphatically – using his professionalism and experience to prove a worthy captain between 2017 and 2019.
After Cahill’s departure, the captaincy (somewhat surprisingly) went to César Azpilicueta, or ‘Dave’ according to the Shed End. Dubbed Mr Reliable, Azpilicueta was something of an unsung hero during his time at Stamford Bridge, barely putting a foot wrong whatever position he was deployed in. The Spaniard would lead the team from 2019 until his departure in 2023 and was an essential member of the squad which brought home the Champions League trophy for a second time in 2021.
After Azpili’s departure, there were questions about who would be the captain of Chelsea during a turbulent period for the club – the new ownership were tearing up the rulebook and things off the pitch were very chaotic. With that in mind, the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge wisely chose Reece James, someone who’d been at the club since the tender age of 6. Chelsea through and through, James continues to be the Chelsea captain to this day and on his day when injury free, one of the best right backs in the world.
Chelsea FC: All Captains List (Post-WWII)
- John Harris: 1945-1951
- Roy Bentley: 1951–1956
- Ken Armstrong: 1956–1957
- Derek Saunders: 1957–1959
- Frank Blunstone: 1959–1964
- Terry Venables: 1964–1966
- Ron Harris: 1966–1980
- Micky Droy: 1980–1984
- Colin Pates: 1984–1988
- Graham Roberts: 1988–1990
- Peter Nicholas: 1990–1991
- Andy Townsend: 1991–1993
- Dennis Wise: 1993–2001
- Marcel Desailly: 2001–2004
- John Terry: 2004–2017
- Gary Cahill: 2017–2019
- César Azpilicueta: 2019–2023
- Reece James: 2023–Present
The Chelsea FC Training Ground: Cobham
Ever since 2005, Cobham has been the home of Chelsea’s training ground – a revolutionary development responsible for creating some of the finest young talent over the past two decades. The success of Cobham is down to many key contributors, and the list of footballing talent it has produced is too long to list.
Cobham is Creating a Legacy
When Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, the training facilities were identified as one of the key priorities to help develop Chelsea from a mid-table Premier League team to a global force. Upgrading from the Harlington training ground which had been used since the 1970s, Chelsea swiftly moved into the modern facilities (although work wasn’t completely finished until 2007), seen then as one of the most innovative and complete training grounds in the world.
The results were emphatic – Chelsea already had a strong history of bringing through local talent (see John Terry), but Cobham gave them the facilities to grow both their training set up and develop their youth set up into one of the world’s best. Over the next two decades, through smart investment, the best coaches and leading-edge education, Cobham would go on to help Chelsea create some of the world’s best talent.
Surrey Supplies the Soul
Located in the heart of Surrey, Cobham has been the home to countless footballing fantasies and developments throughout the past 20 years. Just south of London, set in idyllic hills and green fields, the location is seen as the ideal place for Chelsea FC’s training ground, and the success of its alumni speaks for itself.
The ground itself is remarkable, with Cobham being home to 22 full sized pitches, some of which have undersoil heating and even one artificial pitch – ensuring training can take place all season. The Chelsea Women’s team can also call Cobham home, and the Surrey sanctuary is also home to a 1,000-seater stadium, meaning UEFA Youth League matches can be hosted there.
Chelsea’s Gift of Leadership
The thousands of names that have come through Cobham dwarfs that of any other Premier League youth set up. Famously, Reece James, current captain, remains one of the most recent highlights. However, looking further into the past makes you realise just how many world-renowned stars came through Chelsea’s development programme.
Declan Rice, Dominic Solanke, Ryan Bertrand, Eddie Nketiah and Michael Olise are just a few names who have gone on to shine at other clubs away from Surrey. Cobham has grown into an envied development across the globe and continues to produce superstars each season – the repeated sale of which has grown into a controversial topic around Chelsea, but the fact remains that Cobham is a world-class institution producing the very best talent.
Chelsea FC Training Ground Address
The full address for Chelsea’s development centre is:
Chelsea FC Training Ground Cobham, 64 Stoke Rd, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham KT11 3PT.
Mykhailo Mudryk: What’s Next for Chelsea’s €100 Million Man?
Ever since signing for Chelsea for a reported initial fee of €70million in January 2023, potentially rising to €100million, Mykhailo Mudryk has endured a frustrating and disappointing start to life in London. Chelsea famously pipped Arsenal to the signature of the Ukrainian, and he was initially seen as a very exciting signing – one who may finally be able to fill Eden Hazard’s illustrious boots.
Renato Veiga – Chelsea’s Chilwell Replacement?
As another summer of transfer chaos at Stamford Bridge comes to an end, you’d be forgiven for forgetting one or two of the new faces through the door in west London.
Wolves 2 – 6 Chelsea: Blues Deliver Second-Half Demolition
Chelsea picked up their first win of the Premier League season with a scintillating second-half demolition of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. A hat-trick from Noni Madueke, alongside goals from Cole Palmer, Nicholas Jackson and João Félix (on his second debut for the Blues) secured Enzo Maresca’s first win the league, in emphatic fashion.