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The 2021-22 Premier League season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting campaigns of recent times, and Chelsea are a club with title aspirations. Having been crowned European Champions in May, the Blues are now in the hunt for the Premier League trophy this season. But the Manchester clubs, as well as Liverpool, will not make it easy for Chelsea.
Are Chelsea favourites to win the Premier League?
Chelsea will hope to compete with Manchester City, who cruised to the Premier League title last season. In fact, City have finished on top in three of the last four seasons. They have also signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a British-record transfer fee this summer. Hence, Manchester City do make a strong case to be favorites to retain the crown.
Manchester United ended the Premier League 2020-21 season as runners-up. With the addition of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, they are also among the competitors for the title. Liverpool have a fully fit Virgil van Dijk at the back and are expected to partner him with new acquisition Ibrahima Konate.
However, Chelsea are involved in the transfer market too. Thomas Tuchel has also had a full pre-season to implant his ideas within the side. Chelsea have been restricted to the race for the top four in the past three seasons and will be hoping to make progress this campaign.
Here are five reasons why Chelsea could go all the way and win the Premier League in 2021-22, putting an end to their four-year drought:
#5 Midfield pivot in the form of their lives
Chelsea have predominantly lined up in a three-at-the-back formation under Tuchel. This system requires a midfield pivot in front of the defenders. Jorginho and N'Golo Kante were the players Tuchel utilized for this role last season. Both of these players are in excellent form heading into the new campaign.
Jorginho has not found life easy in the Premier League. His lack of physical dominance was often exploited by opponents earlier.
Under Tuchel, however, his defensive frailties have been masked. This has enabled the midfielder to express his talents. Jorginho is now in the form of his life, winning the Euros with Italy in July after securing the Champions League with Chelsea just a month earlier.
Meanwhile, his partner Kante is widely recognized as one of the best midfielders in the world. His ball-winning ability is second to none. However, under Tuchel, Kante has improved his passing massively. The 30-year-old midfielder has also become press-resistant and has developed the ability to dribble out of tight spaces.
Together, Jorginho and Kante complement each other perfectly. With both midfielders in fantastic form, they can dominate just about anyone in the middle of the pitch on their day.
#4 Timo Werner and Kai Havertz ready to step up
Chelsea signed six players in the summer of 2020. The two most expensive ones among them were the German duo of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
Werner bagged 28 goals in the 2019-20 season with Leipzig, but failed to replicate that in the Premier League. He managed just six goals in the league. Havertz, too, had a disappointing debut campaign for Chelsea. Until April, the 22-year-old managed just three goal contributions in the Premier League.
However, Havertz has seen a change in fortunes since. His upturn in form in the final few months of the season peaked in the Champions League final as he scored the winning goal against Manchester City.
Havertz carried his fine form into the Euros as well. He was one of the brightest sparks in Germany's otherwise lackluster attack. The 22-year-old also seemed sharp in pre-season games and looks set to nail a starting spot in the squad.
Werner excelled playing alongside another physical striker at Leipzig. While his partner holds up the play, the 24-year-old uses his pace to get into spaces in behind. Last season at Chelsea, this was not the case. He was often deployed as the lone striker, or as an inside forward with Havertz as a false nine.
Lukaku's imminent arrival could bring the best out of Werner too. Hence, there is cause for optimism when it comes to the two Germans. If they can hit the ground running this season, Chelsea could very well be serious competitors for the Premier League title.
#3 The young contingent keeps on improving
Under Frank Lampard's guidance, Chelsea finished in the top four in the Premier League in 2019-20. The former manager's biggest success from his time at the helm was the integration of youth into the first team. Mason Mount and Reece James, who were handed first-team debuts by Lampard, are now mainstays in the Chelsea side.
Thomas Tuchel has publicly stated how impressed he is by Mount. The 22-year-old midfielder is the first name on the teamsheet. He also won the Fan's Player of the Year award in 2020-21. Reece James has also continued to impress on the right hand side.
Mount and James went from strength to strength as last season progressed. While Mount provided Havertz with an assist in the Champions League final, James did a brilliant job of handling Sterling defensively on the night.
They are a long way from reaching their peak, and will definitely continue to improve in the 2021-22 season too. Additionally, other academy stars Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andreas Christensen could also play prominent roles for Chelsea in the upcoming season.
Undoubtedly, there is plenty of potential waiting to be tapped into at Stamford Bridge. If Tuchel can find the right recipe, Chelsea could become serious contenders for the Premier League.
#2 Imminent arrival of Lukaku adds new dimension in attack
Romelu Lukaku is reportedly very close to signing for Chelsea from Inter Milan. The 28-year-old striker is set to become the most expensive player for the club he left permanently in 2014. Interestingly, Lukaku ranks 20th in the all-time Premier League goalscorer list from his time at Everton and Manchester United.
Lukaku is a strong and lethal striker, which Chelsea have been lacking since the departure of Diego Costa in 2017. He is also Premier League proven, and at the peak of his career.
The Belgian will look to be on the end of the incredible amount of chances Chelsea create. He will also have a positive impact on other players such as Werner, Havertz and Ziyech. Lukaku led Inter to the Serie A title in 2020-21, and will be looking to replicate that with Chelsea in the 2021-22 Premier League.
#1 Tuchel has revived hunger for success at Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel, from his very first interview as Chelsea manager, has insisted that the squad is ready to compete for titles. This is a massive change in mentality, as his predecessor Frank Lampard often downplayed the team's capability to compete for trophies.
Tuchel delivered on his promise by winning the Champions League. The squad seem to be buying into the German's mentality too. The players no longer consider themselves underdogs and head into every game wanting the three points.
The tactician has successfully taken the side's ambitions to a new level. The Champions League triumph has further fueled the players' belief in terms of winning the Premier League title.
Since Tuchel's arrival, Chelsea have been one of the best sides in the league. His record against other top teams is impressive, having got the better of Pep Guardiola three times in the space of two months.
With a full pre-season of coaching for the players, Tuchel will expect performances of an even higher level from his side.
Based on the evidence of his first few months at Chelsea, it is safe to say Tuchel has revived the hunger for success at Stamford Bridge. That could make a massive difference in their pursuit of the Premier League title next season.
