Five reasons why Chelsea are already playing catch up in the Premier League

Stadium dilemmas

Speaking of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are in bother there too when owner Roman Abramovich pulled the plug on the proposed redevelopment of their ground.

The redesign would have put Chelsea up there with the big boys in terms of venue presence and stature.

 As it is, the Bridge remains somewhat higgle-piggeldy and dated. Unlike their rivals’ new home…

Tottenham and Arsenal are making waves

With the two Manchester clubs and Liverpool dominating the top three last season, Chelsea were left fighting for fourth with near and unloved neighbours Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

The latter are each entering significant summers. Spurs are about to move into a long sought-after and seriously impressive new White Hart Lane, while Arsenal finally did what they had to do and parted ways with Arsene Wenger.

Spurs’ new home should allow Daniel Levy to stretch his purse strings, while Arsenal have already brought in Unai Emery as Wenger’s replacement.

The Gunners have made a number of shrewd signings too in Bernd Leno and Stephan Lichtsteiner, with more expected to follow in the near future.

Top three could stretch away

Man City were a class above the rest last season. And though they haven’t made any significant signings yet this summer, it’s unlikely Pep Guardiola will allow them to stumble much next term.

The only teams to get close to them last term were Manchester United and Liverpool.

And that pair have laid down a couple of markers already in the off-season. United have announced highly-rated duo Fred and Diogo Dalot.

Similarly, Liverpool have been busy too. The Anfield outfit signed Naby Keita last summer pending his arrival this term, and they’ve brought in Fabinho from Monaco.  

It’s clear that neither side have any intention of battling for the top four. They both want the title.

So while five of the top six have all made positive moves one way or another this summer, Chelsea have stood still.

They’re still trying to get rid of their manager, they’ve shelved their stadium plans and they haven’t made a single signing. All in all, this is a summer of discontent in West London.

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