A fruitful offseason has Chelsea looking up for the 2018/2019 Premier League campaign
Chelsea did not have the brightest season under Antonio Conte last year. The club finished fifth in the table and was five points behind fourth place Tottenham. The sacking of Conte came as no surprise, with both parties looking to move on and improve overall.
The blues wasted no time finding a replacement, bringing in a new manager and new players. Now, Chelsea will look to challenge the ever-changing top four in hopes of Premier League glory.
Capturing the FA Cup was a great confidence booster for a team that had little else to build upon. Carrying that momentum in to the new season will be key for this squad.
A lot has to change for this to happen, but with a team packed with talent and an ambitious manager, they are in a great position from the start. Five key parts of this team can be the difference maker over the season as Chelsea aim for the title.
1. Maurizio Sarri
Chelsea made one of the signings of the summer by bringing in manager Maurizio Sarri. The ex-Napoli boss had a falling out at the Italian club, opening the door for him to move to Chelsea.
This was an easy decision for Chelsea as they knew they would be parting with Antonio Conte come seasons end. Sarri was also very successful in Serie A, finishing just a few points short of first place Juventus.
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Sarri brings a very exciting style of play that, on paper, looks like it will be perfect for the Premier League. The most obvious thing he brings is his favored formation of the 433, which fits Chelsea’s player pool very well.
The front three of Hazard, Morata, and Pedro will head the attack for the blues. This is assuming that Hazard does not leave this summer, considering he has been linked with a move away from Chelsea for quite some time.
Even if Hazard does leave, Willian can fill that winger role seamlessly. The attack will grab most of the headlines in a Sarri team, but the midfield is just as important in his system.
The trio of Cesc Fabregas, Jorginho and N’golo Kante will boss the midfield for Chelsea and will be expected to do a ton of work on and off the ball. They will need to end opposing counter attacks just as quickly as they start their own.
The versatility in each midfielder cannot be emphasized enough. Sarri will preach a system that plays to the strengths of many Chelsea players, making Chelsea one of the most exciting teams to look forward to this upcoming Premier League season.