I think it’s safe to say that Chelsea had a season that all those connected to the club would rather forget. Firstly, they lost their owner Roman Abramovich who was forced to sell the club by the UK government because of his links with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Graham Potter, the manager at the time seemed like he was a manager in the wrong place at the wrong time. From the outside looking in, it appeared that new manager Todd Boehly was playing Football Manager with some of the most random signings in European Football. Potter was sacked in April as he was unable to get the side to perform and was replaced by former boss, Frank Lampard in a temporary role.
That didn’t work out and Chelsea had to settle for a place in the bottom half of the table as they finished 12th in the Premier League.
Many, myself included are expecting a very different proposition from Chelsea this season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Nickname(s): The Blues, The Pensioners.
Founded: 1905
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Last Season: 12th
Top Scorer(s): Kai Havertz (7)
Played for Villa and Chelsea
John Terry
John Terry came through the youth academy at West Ham United and moved to Chelsea at the age of 14. The defender went on to make 492 appearances during 19 years with The Blues. Understandably he became a club legend helping them to win 5 Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2012 amongst plenty of other titles.
Terry joined Villa in 2017 after being released by Chelsea and was made club captain by then-manager Steve Bruce. He helped Villa to a Championship playoff final in his only season with the club but they lost 1-0 to Fulham.
Despite being offered a contract by Spartak Moscow, the defender hung up his boots in 2018. Months later he re-joined Villa as Dean Smith’s Assistant head coach and following a three-year spell with the club, Terry departed for reasons still unknown.
Carlton Cole
Just like Terry, Carlton Cole came through the Chelsea academy after he signed for them in 2000. He spend six years with the club without really breaking into the first team scoring just four goals in twenty-five appearances.
In 2004 he joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan and failed to make any real impact at Villa Park scoring just 3 goals in 27 appearances.
Cole eventually found a place he could call home when he joined West Ham in 2006 where he went on to become a fan favourite over a 9 year spell with the club.
Head to Head
Aston Villa: 59
Chelsea: 68
Drawn: 35
Last meeting: Chelsea 0-2 Aston Villa (1st April ’23)
2023/24 Fixtures: H – 27th April ’24, A – 23rd September ’23
Confirmed Transfers
IN: Christopher Nkunku (£52 million), Nicolas Jackson (£32 million), Angelo (£13 million), Diego Moreira (Free).
OUT: Kai Havertz (£65 million), Mason Mount (£55 million), Mateo Kovacic (£25 million), Kalidou Koulibaly (£23 million), Christian Pulisic (£17 million), Edouard Mendy (£16 million), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£14 million), Ethan Ampadu (£7 million), N’Golo Kante (Free), César Azpilicueta (Free), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Free).
Transfer Rumours
IN: Moisés Caicedo from Brighton (£65 million), Robert Sánchez from Brighton (£20 million), Axel Disasi from Monaco (£26 million).
OUT: Callum Hudson-Odoi to Fulham or Lazio (£12 million), Gabriel Slonina to KAS Eupon (£7.5 million).
Pre-Season
Chelsea kicked off their pre-season in the United States where they beat Wrexham 5-0 at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in North Carolina.
Wins over Brighton (3-2) and Fulham (2-0) with a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the Premier League Summer Series followed which saw Chelsea become the first winners of the competition with Villa finishing second.
While the other clubs head back to England, the Blues will stay in the US to finish their pre-season with a game against German giants Borrusia Dortmund on August 3rd in Chicago.