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#4 Chelsea
Like Arsenal, Chelsea also underwent a change at the top with the club hierarchy replacing Conte with another Italian, Sarri. The latter is the polar opposite of the former in terms of footballing philosophies yet has done better than expected.
At the start of 2019, Chelsea look primed to make the fourth Champions League spot their own and enjoy a five-point advantage over Arsenal.
Though the West London outfit has looked devoid of invention in recent weeks, they are still getting victories on the board.
Chelsea has a lot to work on defensively and maybe we’ll have to wait a year for Sarri and his charges to truly flex their muscles.
Yet, his first season hasn’t been a disaster and Champions League qualification would ensure the season is looked upon as a successful one.
Rating: 7
#3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham surprised one and all when they decided to not sign a single player in the summer. However, the club made sure that their core players committed their future to set the platform for another sparkling season.
Till November, Tottenham had been going about their business quietly. Yet, the loss in the North London Derby seems to have snapped them into action. Since then, they have been scoring freely with their triumvirate of Son, Alli and Kane wreaking havoc.
Spurs have a very thin squad but the manager’s trait of bringing out the best from the available resources has again come to the fore.
There is absolutely no question that Spurs has progressed over the years and the upward curve looks likely to continue on its current course.
Though a title may be a step too far this term, a few signings in the summer could propel them into genuine contenders.
Rating: 8
