Chelsea endured a tumultuous 2024 however there was a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel.
Mauricio Pochettino’s single season in cost at Stamford Bridge got here to a conclusion in Might, leaving Chelsea with a vacant managerial place as soon as once more.
The Blues opted in opposition to an enormous title and as a substitute appointed Enzo Maresca, who mastermined Leicester Metropolis’s promotion again to the Premier League. The Italian made a sluggish begin in west London however has since discovered his ft, with the long run trying vivid for the two-time European champions.
Whereas supporters will probably be keen to find what 2025 will convey, let’s take a better have a look at Chelsea‘s 2024.
Not even probably the most ardent soccer hipster can deny that Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s shining gentle in 2024. The Blues had been usually a one-man staff throughout the first half of the calendar yr, with Palmer’s ingenuity and brilliance relied upon in each outing.
The England worldwide has been a sensation since swapping Manchester for the capital at the start of 2023/24, ending final time period because the Premier League’s Younger Participant of the Season. He has the invaluable capacity to make the tough look easy, recurrently dragging Chelsea to victory together with his objectives and assists.
Regardless of being much-maligned throughout his first season at Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson nonetheless served up 17 objectives final time period. That tally was marred by constant and high-profile misses, however the indicators had been overwhelmingly constructive for a younger participant adapting to life on the earth’s fiercest division.
Jackson completed final time period with 4 objectives in his closing 5 Premier League appearances and continued his stellar goalscoring kind at the start of Maresca’s reign. He produced 9 objectives in 2024 below the Italian coach and has reworked from an unreliable finisher right into a scientific sharpshooter.
Chelsea have develop into famend for nearly completely recruiting younger stars they usually now have a squad stacked to the brim with a few of Europe’s most spectacular abilities. Nonetheless, their main teen in 2024 was considered one of their very own, with Levi Colwill dazzling for the Blues.
Following a powerful mortgage spell with Brighton & Hove Albion, Colwill swiftly discovered a beginning berth within the Chelsea staff below Pochettino, a place he has held comfortably since Maresca was appointed.
The England worldwide has the arrogance, athleticism and tactical intelligence of a senior star and has been a gradual and spectacular presence within the coronary heart of an usually altering backline.
Unsurprisingly, it is Chelsea main performer who additionally tops their goalscoring charts. A relentless calendar yr noticed Palmer produce 29 objectives in simply 47 appearances for the Blues throughout all competitions, matching the tally of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and sitting solely 9 objectives behind former Manchester Metropolis teammate Erling Haaland.
Palmer’s 12 objectives in 2024/25 to this point imply that he might but beat his spectacular tally of 25 strikes in 2023/24 as he continues to turn into a very deadly attacking midfielder.
None of Chelsea’s many signings in 2024 have hit their stride simply but. The bulk have struggled to interrupt right into a star-studded and now established first staff, however there have been constructive early indicators from their most costly summer time recruit, Pedro Neto.
The previous Wolverhampton Wanderers winger has lengthy been admired by Europe’s elite, with accidents all that has prevented him from reaching the elite stage. Chelsea splashed out £54m over the summer time.
Three objectives and 4 assists just isn’t a devastating tally for somebody of Neto’s high quality however the 24-year-old has the potential and uncooked expertise to burst into life within the coming months and years.
Chelsea went trophyless in 2024 and endured some tough patches, however there have been additionally some extremely memorable outings. The Blues have usually saved their finest for his or her conventional rivals and had been in a position to produce one of many Premier League’s most astonishing comebacks in April.
3-2 down at dwelling to Manchester United within the dying embers at Stamford Bridge, objectives from Palmer within the a hundredth and one hundred and first minute secured an astounding 4-3 victory. It was the spotlight of an usually hit-and-miss yr and a match that can dwell lengthy within the reminiscence.
