Over the years, Chelsea have established their reputation as one of the most formidable sides in Europe but inconsistency continues to plague them. It is a standing joke that Blues owner Roman Abramovich changes managers more often than changing the team’s kit and that is one of the main reasons behind their lack of stability.
Although the Blues have managed to win the Premier League title a couple of times in the last few years, it goes without saying that the rampant dismissals of managers often lead to a toxic environment at Stamford Bridge.
Despite Antonio Conte’s title-winning debut campaign, the manager’s future is up in the air after a disappointing 2017/18 season. And with that, Chelsea are set to go on a merry-go-round once more.
But ahead of the new season, here are 5 issues the club will have to deal with.
Lack of transfer activity
At a time where the prospect of playing Champions League football is used as a yardstick to measure success, it will be tough for Chelsea to make new signings this summer as they finished 5th in the Premier League last season.
As things stand, they need new players in several areas and although they have enough financial backing, it might be tough for them to pursue big players to join with no Champions League football.
Roman Abramovich’s visa fiasco
Chelsea’s owner is officially an Israeli citizen now and he is expected to shift base to Tel Aviv soon. While he will be allowed to visit the UK, it will be interesting to see how this new situation affects the club’s day-to-day dealings.
Over the years, Abramovich has managed to revamp Chelsea with several big-name signings and a flurry of managers. In fact, he has always been an ever-present figure at Stamford Bridge but now it remains to be seen how he deals with the latest developments.
Stadium redevelopment (or the lack of it)
Chelsea had big plans of taking up a major project to redevelop Stamford Bridge but the move has been shelved for the time being.
One can understand as to why Abramovich is hesitant to invest so much money and time into revamping Stamford Bridge, especially after being denied a visa renewal. Unfortunately, his club will bear the brunt of that decision.
Will the real Chelsea manager please stand up?
As stated earlier, Chelsea either need to commit to Conte or sign a new manager soon. The transfer window is in full swing and while their rivals are strengthening their respective teams, the Blues are yet to decide who will manage them next season. And for now, their summer activities continue to be in limbo, and the timing is terrible.
Futures of Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois
It remains to be seen if star players Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois remain at Chelsea beyond the summer. In a report by The Mirror, Thibaut Courtois publicly acknowledged the same and called for a clarification on the matter. Unfortunately for the player, Chelsea are yet to do anything of that sort.