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.

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.

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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).

Embed from Getty Images

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.

Cole Palmer is undoubtedly one of the most in-form players in the Premier League right now and potentially world football. After a breakout season in 2023/24, he’s already proving it was no fluke. As Chelsea’s main man, it’s vital they have him available more often than not, which means they must manage his minutes.

Palmer, 22, has been a revelation since swapping Manchester City for Chelsea just over a year ago. The attacking midfielder has quickly established himself as a serious talent, scoring goals and providing assists. But after so much football since arriving at Stamford Bridge, it’s key that his fitness load is monitored, which will allow him to play consistently at the top of his game for the West Londoners and England.

In all competitions in 2023/24, Palmer made forty-eight appearances, scoring a stunning twenty-seven goals from his attacking midfield berth while also weighing in with fifteen assists. He made forty-eight appearances in total, but crucially, he only started forty-three of those games, with his combined minutes registering at 3,734, which works out at 41.5 full games completed.

It appears as though Chelsea and manager Enzo Maresca are keen to manage how much football their talisman is playing in 2024/25, as he was left out of the club’s squad for the UEFA Conference League group stage, although he is expected to be registered if Chelsea advance as expected. Palmer was also absent from the matchday squad for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie at home to Barrow.

Chelsea have played seven Premier League games at the time of writing, with Palmer starting all seven. However, he has been withdrawn before full-time on two occasions. The first time came against Wolves, where Palmer had scored once and supplied three assists. Maresca also withdrew him against West Ham, another game in which he scored.

There’s arguably no player more in form than Palmer right now. From the seven games he’s started domestically, he’s scored six and made five assists. That’s eleven direct goal involvements in just seven outings. Palmer starts games and is expected to score, which is why he’s often searched for in the various Premier League betting markets that exist.

Every time Chelsea play and Palmer is on the pitch, there’s a big chance that both will be successful. Chelsea lost to Palmer’s former club, Manchester City, in their first fixture of the season, but since then, they’ve won four and drawn two, and it’s in these games that Palmer has scored six and made five assists. He scored four first-half goals against Brighton in stunning fashion, too.

If Chelsea and their fitness and medical staff are clever in tandem with Maresca, they could keep the England international at the top of his game consistently throughout the campaign. This will involve being subbed off in some games, usually when he’s already wreaked havoc on the opposition. He may also have to start a few matches on the bench. It will probably infuriate Palmer, but it will be a case of short-term pain for long-term gain.

Following a strong finish to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, Chelsea have begun the current season in impressive form, to the delight of the Stamford Bridge faithful and punters supporting the Blues at the best betting websites.

Several factors have contributed to this solid start – notably the deadly counterattacking play and Nicolas Jackson’s improvement in front of goal. Another noteworthy element has been the influential introduction of a man who found himself in the shadows at Old Trafford.

Excellent Start to Loan Spell

Jadon Sancho’s arrival at Chelsea has brought an immediate spark, putting pressure on his teammates, particularly Mykhaylo Mudryk, whose struggles have been further highlighted by Sancho’s impressive start. Although Sancho hasn’t even completed a full 90 minutes on the pitch for Chelsea, his influence is already undeniable, with two assists in just two appearances.

In his debut start against West Ham, the 24-year-old delivered a sublime assist to set up Nicolas Jackson for the opening goal, just days after coming off the bench to help Christopher Nkunku net the winning goal against Bournemouth. With these two assists, Sancho has already matched Mudryk’s assist tally from last season — a concerning comparison for the Ukrainian winger.

£25m Bargain?

Mudryk, 23, who was signed for an eye-watering potential fee of £88 million, has struggled to make his mark at Stamford Bridge since arriving in January 2023. Despite making 18 Premier League starts last season and scoring five goals, his overall creativity has been lacking, with only two assists to his name throughout the campaign. On the other hand, Sancho, who joined on a season-long loan from Manchester United, has made an immediate impact and seems ready to cement his place in the starting lineup under Enzo Maresca.

Sancho’s loan deal includes an obligation to buy for around £25 million — a fraction of the price Chelsea paid for Mudryk. The contrast in value makes Sancho’s rapid adaptation even more impressive and a further indictment of Mudryk’s underwhelming 20-month spell in London.

All Round Contributor

The ripple effect of Sancho’s impressive performances also extends to the lingering questions surrounding his departure from Manchester United. After being exiled by Erik ten Hag, Sancho revived his form during a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, helping the team reach the Champions League final. Although a permanent return to Germany never materialized, Chelsea quickly capitalized on the situation, benefiting from Sancho’s fresh determination and quality.

Sancho’s impact isn’t just in attack. His willingness to track back and contribute defensively has also impressed Maresca, who praised the winger’s work ethic on and off the pitch. This contrasts with Mudryk, who has struggled to adapt to the tactical demands of the Premier League, particularly defensively.

Mudryk Down the Pecking Order

With Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, and Pedro Neto competing for attacking roles, Mudryk could soon find himself sidelined if he fails to step up. Despite this, Mudryk will likely have opportunities to prove himself in upcoming fixtures, such as Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie against Barrow and their UEFA Conference League campaign. These matches could provide the 23-year-old with crucial minutes to rebuild his confidence and fight for his place in the team.

While Mudryk’s future at Chelsea is not under immediate threat, the January transfer window could bring renewed speculation about his role in Maresca’s squad. For now, it’s essential that he finds consistency and follows Sancho’s lead in taking advantage of his opportunities on the pitch.

Ultimately, Sancho’s brilliant start has raised the bar at Chelsea, leaving Mudryk with a clear challenge — to fight for his place and prove his worth. Whether he can do so remains to be seen, but what’s certain is that Sancho has reinvigorated Chelsea’s attack, and his presence could play a pivotal role in the club’s pursuit of success this season.

As one of the most decorated clubs in English football history, Chelsea have tasted success in every domestic and European competition at least once and are always a popular choice for punters taking advantage of the best free bets available online.

On the back of a solid start to the Premier League season, Chelsea kicks off their 2024/25 Carabao Cup campaign with a home clash against League Two outfit Barrow A.F.C. on Tuesday, 24th of September. Will this be the beginning of a journey towards Wembley and a place alongside the following five League Cup-winning sides?

1965 Final: Chelsea 3–2 Leicester City (First League Cup Win)

Chelsea’s first significant achievement in the League Cup came in 1965, under manager Tommy Docherty. The final was played over two legs against Leicester City. Chelsea won the first leg at Stamford Bridge 3–2 and then secured a 0-0 draw in the second leg at Filbert Street to win their first-ever major trophy.

Led by stars like Bobby Tambling and Peter Bonetti, Chelsea showed resilience throughout the tournament. This victory was particularly historic as it marked the club’s emergence as a competitive force in English football. Though the League Cup wasn’t yet regarded as highly as other domestic competitions, this win laid the foundation for future successes.

1998 Final: Chelsea 2–0 Middlesbrough (Gianluca Vialli’s Era)

The late 1990s marked the rise of Chelsea as a true domestic and European power. Under player-manager Gianluca Vialli, Chelsea beat Blackburn Rovers, Southampton, Ipswich Town and London rivals Arsenal en route to a clash with a Bryan Robson-led Middlesbrough in the final.

With the North East club putting up stern resistance, the Blues needed extra time to get their hands on the trophy, thanks to strikes from Frank Sinclair and Roberto Di Matteo.

2005 Final: Chelsea 3–2 Liverpool (José Mourinho’s First Trophy)

Perhaps one of the most memorable League Cup finals for Chelsea fans came in 2005 when José Mourinho led the club to victory over Liverpool. The match was a thrilling encounter that required extra time. Liverpool took the lead after one minute through John Arne Riise, but Chelsea equalized in the 79th minute, courtesy of an own goal from Steven Gerrard.

In extra time, Chelsea took control with goals from Didier Drogba and Mateja Kežman to secure a 3–2 victory. This triumph was significant because it marked José Mourinho’s first trophy in English football, setting the stage for Chelsea’s domestic dominance in the years to come. The victory also solidified the reputation of Mourinho as a master tactician and Chelsea as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League and cup competitions.

2007 Final: Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal (Drogba’s Masterclass)

Two years after Mourinho’s first League Cup triumph, Chelsea once again reached the final in 2007 – this time facing a young Arsenal side brimming with talent. Arsenal took the lead early in the game through Theo Walcott, but Didier Drogba, who had developed a reputation for stepping up in big moments, equalized soon after with a smart finish from inside the area.

The match looked destined for extra time, but Drogba struck again late in the second half, scoring the winner with a trademark header. This 2–1 victory gave Chelsea their fourth League Cup trophy and reinforced the club’s winning mentality under Mourinho.

2015 Final: Chelsea 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur (Mourinho’s Return)

In 2015, José Mourinho was back at Chelsea for his second stint, and he once again guided the club to League Cup success. In the final, Chelsea faced their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, a team that had beaten them 5-3 in the Premier League earlier in the season.

However, the final was a completely different affair, with Chelsea delivering a controlled and clinical performance. John Terry scored the opener just before halftime, and a Kyle Walker own goal in the second half secured a 2–0 victory for Chelsea. This win was significant as it was Mourinho’s first trophy during his second tenure at the club and set the tone for Chelsea’s Premier League title win later that season.

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

Embed from Getty Images

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.

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.

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.