Jose Mourinho did it again. In just his second year back with Chelsea, the Portuguese manager guided the London giants to another Premier League title, their first in five years. Led by the brilliant Eden Hazard, the Blues finished the season eight points clear of previous champions Manchester City.
The main question now is can they do it all over again? Read on below as we break down Chelsea’s chances of retaining the Premier League crown this campaign. While you’re at it, you can check out as well our team previews of Manchester United and Manchester City as we draw ever closer to the start of another riveting Premier League season.
[sc:Soccer ]Chelsea 2015-2016 Premier League Preview
Overview
Can Chelsea be stopped? That’s the question on everyone’s lips ahead of the new season after their record-breaking performance last campaign. The Blues stamped their class in the Premier League last season, leading the table for a record 274 days. Such was Chelsea’s dominance last season that they trailed in games for just 171 minutes in the English Premier League.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Providing an immediate impact for Chelsea last season were key signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas. Costa led the Blues in scoring last campaign with 20 goals while Fabregas dished out a Premier League-best 18 assists. Fabregas had the most passes in the Premier League last season with 2,743.
The Blues will fancy their chances of retaining the title this year as their squad remains pretty much intact for the upcoming season. Joining the Blues in their title defense this year are Danilo Pantic, striker Radamel Falcao and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. The latter will have some big shoes to fill, though, as he will replace club legend Petr Cech who transferred to London rivals Arsenal this past summer.
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Key Player – Eden Hazard
According to a recent study by CIES Football Observatory, Eden Hazard is now worth more in transfer value than Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes, you heard that right. We now live in a world where the Chelsea midfielder is considered more valuable than the three-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo. The report states that Hazard’s transfer value is now worth a staggering €148.9M.
Hazard’s value has risen dramatically this year after his stellar campaign for the Blues last season. The Belgian recorded the most dribbles completed (179), chances created (101) and duels won (335) over the course of the previous league campaign. He was Chelsea’s second leading scorer last season as well, notching a total of 19 goals. Since his transfer from Lille three years ago, Hazard has scored 49 goals in 169 games for Chelsea while also providing 39 assists.
With Hazard just 24 years of age, there’s still plenty left in the tank for this midfield maestro. He’ll be a vital cog for Chelsea as they look to defend their Premier League title this coming season.
Key Game – @ Manchester City (August 16)
Chelsea will face an acid test right off the bat as they square off with Manchester City at the Etihad in just their second league game of the season. The Blues were held to a 1-1 stalemate by the Citizens in this same fixture last season. A victory here by Chelsea will remind their rivals that their reign as champions is definitely far from over. A defeat here, however, will provide belief to the other contenders that this year’s title race will be more open than ever.
Best Case/Worst Case Scenario
Best Case Scenario
With such a deep and talented squad, the Blues are expected to once again wreak havoc in the league this season. With Premier League Player of the Year Eden Hazard leading the way, anything less than a championship will be a disappointment for the Blues.
Worst Case Scenario
Chelsea might be the odds-on favorite to win the league this season but as we all know injuries can quickly put an end to that dream. Diego Costa was brilliant for the most part for Chelsea in his first season with the club but his injury woes resurfaced towards the end of last season. Chelsea’s forward line is razor-thin at the moment so an injury to Costa will be a major headache for manager Jose Mourinho.
The same goes with their defense where they still rely mainly on veteran John Terry. The captain surpassed expectations last year with his excellent play but the clock is definitely ticking on his storied career. If his body breaks down this season, that will be a major dilemma for the West London side.
Complete Schedule
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Aug 8 | Swansea City | 12:30 PM ET |
| Sunday, Aug 16 | @ Manchester City | 11:00 AM ET |
| Sunday, Aug 23 | @ West Bromwich Albion | 8:30 AM ET |
| Saturday, Aug 29 | Crystal Palace | 10:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Sep 12 | @ Everton | 7:45 AM ET |
| Saturday, Sep 19 | Arsenal | 7:45 AM ET |
| Saturday, Sep 26 | @ Newcastle | 12:30 PM ET |
| Saturday, Oct 3 | Southampton | 10:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Oct 17 | Aston Villa | 10:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Oct 24 | @ West Ham | 10:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Oct 31 | Liverpool | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Nov 7 | @ Stoke City | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Nov 21 | Norwich City | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Nov 28 | @ Tottenham | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Dec 5 | Bournemouth | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Dec 12 | @ Leicester City | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Dec 19 | Sunderland | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Dec 26 | Watford | 11:00 AM ET |
| Monday, Dec 28 | @ Manchester United | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Jan 2 | @ Crystal Palace | 11:00 AM ET |
| Wednesday, Jan 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 3:45 PM ET |
| Saturday, Jan 16 | Everton | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Jan 23 | @ Arsenal | 11:00 AM ET |
| Tuesday, Feb 2 | @ Watford | 3:45 PM ET |
| Saturday, Feb 6 | Manchester United | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Feb 13 | Newcastle | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Feb 27 | @ Southampton | 11:00 AM ET |
| Tuesday, Mar 1 | @ Norwich City | 3:45 PM ET |
| Saturday, Mar 5 | Stoke | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Mar 12 | @ Liverpool | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Mar 19 | West Ham | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Apr 2 | @ Aston Villa | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Apr 9 | @ Swansea | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Apr 16 | Manchester City | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Apr 23 | @ Bournemouth | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, Apr 30 | Tottenham | 11:00 AM ET |
| Saturday, May 7 | @ Sunderland | 11:00 AM ET |
| Sunday, May 15 | Leicester City | 11:00 AM ET |
Writer’s Prediction
Chelsea (+150) fail in their bid to win back-to-back titles as they finish a close second.
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