If you claim to understand the last few years of Chelsea Football Club, I’m afraid that I’ll have to tell you that you’re a liar. Since they won their second Champions League title in 2021, a lot has happened. New managers, new ownership and, presumably, quite a lot of Frank Lampard coming and going.
After a very disappointing 2022-23 season, Chelsea FC knew that they needed to start turning things around. Far too much money had been spent on the squad for them to miss out on European football again. Enter Mauricio Pochettino.
Todd Boehly entrusted his new toy to a proven manager, who had excelled at Tottenham Hotspur and has shown he has what it takes to compete at the top of the Premier League – just what Chelsea needed.
In our month by month review, we’ll chart the highs and lows of the 2023-24 Premier League season. Then, at the bottom of this article, you will be able to find out how you can attend matches at Stamford Bridge, with a quick look at the incredible VIP packages that Chelsea have to offer.
Pre-Season
This may come as a surprise to you, but Chelsea were quite active in the summer transfer window… Pochettino needed to put his stamp on the squad, and he was fully backed by the club. Chelsea spent a world record £450 million on first team signings, on players like: Moisés Caicedo and Robert Sanchez from Brighton, Nicolas Jackson from Villareal, Cole Palmer from Manchester City, Axel Disasi from Monaco and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. (there isn’t enough space on this page to list them all…).
No excuses then!
Chelsea travelled to America for their pre-season, playing against Premier League rivals Brighton, Newcastle United and Fulham, as well as Borussia Dortmund and Wrexham, off of the telly. They went unbeaten through these five matches, winning three and drawing two. Decent preparation for the new season.
August
If Chelsea wanted to start the season off with a proper test of what they were capable of, they got it. Liverpool at Stamford Bridge – it doesn’t get much bigger than that as opening fixtures go. Despite some early pressure, Chelsea went behind to a Luis Diaz goal after 18 minutes. Chelsea dug in, though, and continued to push for an equaliser, which came in the 37th minute from new signing Diassi. They had to weather a bit of a storm for the rest of the match, but held on for a respectable 1-1 draw.
Next up was a trip across London to face West Ham. Premier League matches like this are ones that you need to be getting results in if you are to compete at the top of the league, but this was the first real wake up call for Pochettino – he saw exactly how much work was needed in a 3-1 defeat, in which West Ham ended up with 10 men.
5 days later, though, they managed to put that defeat behind them with a 3-0 win against Luton Town at Stamford Bridge. Nicolas Jackson got his first goal for the club, while Raheem Sterling bagged a brace.
Chelsea FC entered the League Cup at the Second Round for the first time in years, which gave them a chance to rotate the squad a bit and build fitness. A 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon could have been more comfortable, but they were in the hat for the next round.
First two wins of the season, and things were looking up.
September
But not for long. The following week Chelsea faced Nottingham Forest at home – a match that they should be winning if they have serious European aspirations – but they lost 1-0, after missing a host of chances.
Next up, after the international break. was a trip to struggling Bournemouth, but again they struggled in front of goal, and ended up drawing 0-0. Their concerns grew deeper the following week when they lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa – no wins and three, and more concerning, no goals in any of those matches. They needed to put some results together.
Sometimes the cup competitions can be a good distraction, and the third round of the League Cup proved to be exactly that – an excellent 1-0 win against Brighton saw them progress again, and also a much needed goal for striker Jackson.
October
Could that cup win spark something to get the Premier League season up and running? October got off to a great start with a 2-0 win away at local rivals Fulham. The most positive thing about the match, other than the three points, was seeing Mykhailo Mudryk’s first goal for Chelsea FC. A huge monkey off his back.
Games come thick and fast in the Premier League, which is great when you’re winning, so Chelsea were able to back up that great win with another, this time an emphatic 4-1 away at Burnley. They had gone a goal down before being inspired by Sterling to dominate the match – Burnley just couldn’t cope with him.
A sterner test was up next, hosting high-flying Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. To date, this was probably their best performance of the season against really good opposition, but they couldn’t quite see out the game, letting a two goal lead slip late on, for a 2-2 draw. There were plenty of positives to take from the game though, and some cause for optimism, even taking into account the collapse at the end.
‘Two steps forward, one step back’ could be the motto for Chelsea Football Club at the moment. Just then you think they are going to start building, they experience another setback. This time it came in the form of a 2-0 defeat at home to rivals Brentford. Again, it was Chelsea’s wastefulness in front of goal that cost them.
November
Back to the Carabao Cup then, for a much-needed confidence boost. This time they ease past Blackburn Rovers with a 2-0 win following yet another home draw. Through to the quarter finals.
Then came one of the most fascinating matches in Premier League history – especially if you love video assistant referees… Chelsea travelled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face a Spurs side that was exceeding expectations at the top of the league. Chelsea went a goal down early on, a little unfortunately given the deflection on the strike. Then Spurs had second disallowed for offside. Then Chelsea had two goals disallowed. The second disallowed goal actually resulted in Chelsea’s equaliser (a sentence which pretty much sums up the match) – while the goal was disallowed, a penalty was awarded for a different offence, with Palmer scored. Romero was sent off for Spurs for the offence.
Then Spurs players started dropping like flies to injuries, and in the second half, Udogie was sent off leaving them with nine men. For a while it felt like Chelsea’s wasteful approach to scoring might hinder them again, but with fifteen minutes left, Jackson scored to give Chelsea the lead – and then bagged another two in injury time (there was plenty) to complete a hat trick. 4-1 to Chelsea and a match that few will forget.
Next came another massive challenge as they hosted Manchester City at Stamford Bridge – and it ended up being another classic. Haaland put the visitors ahead after 25 minutes, only for goals from Thiago Silva and Sterling to put Chelsea in the lead. An Akanji goal in stoppage time ensured the teams went in level at the break. Haaland then put the champions in the lead again, but then Jackson hit back. Rodri must have thought he’d won the game for City when he scored with just four minutes left of the 90, but then Cole Palmer held his nerve to equalise from the spot in the 95th minute, against his old club. 4-4, and Chelsea had gone from not being able to score, to scoring eight in two matches.
Another international break came up then, and it seemed to knock the wind out of their sails, as in the next game Chelsea slumped to a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United. A disappointing end to what had been a pretty good month.
December
There was no time to wallow in self pity though. Chelsea hosted Brighton in the next game, with many players presumably confused about who they actually played for. It was another high-scoring affair, but Chelsea came out of it on top with a 3-2 win, with a brace from Enzo Fernandez. Even a Conor Gallaher sending off couldn’t stop Chelsea.
Unfortunately Chelsea, again, couldn’t capitalise on a good result when they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United at Old Trafford. This was compounded a few days later with a 2-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
In the EFL Cup, Chelsea managed to progress to the semi finals against Newcastle United on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in normal time.
A home match against bottom-of-the-league Sheffield United was the perfect antidote to a couple of defeats in the league, and they brushed them aside 2-0 with two second half goals. Palmer and Jackson on the score sheet yet again.
The lack of clinical finishing came back to bite them again on Christmas Eve though, when they were beaten 2-1 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers – the one shining light being a first Chelsea goal for Nkunku who was recovering from a long-term knee injury. The seven bookings that they picked up was a slight cause for concern though.
Two much-needed wins completed 2023 – the first a fairly routine 2-1 home win against Crystal Palace, before a slightly less routine 3-2 away win against Luton Town.
January 2024
Chelsea began the year in 10th in the Premier League – a position that no one would see as good enough given the level of investment and quality of players.
Before they could look to improve on that, there was the FA Cup to focus on, and a 4-0 win over Preston North End was the perfect way to start the year. The strong team that Pochettino put out signalled how seriously they were taking the cup competitions this year. Thiago Silva, Broja, Sterling and Fernandez got the goals.
Another derby game in the Premier League next up, with Fulham at home, and Chelsea completed their first double of the season with a 1-0 win. That was three wins on the bounce in the league – things were looking up.
Either side of the Fulham game, they played Middlesbrough in the two-legged Carabao Cup semi final. A 1-0 defeat at the Riverside was emphatically overturned at Stamford Bridge with a 6-1 win. Chelsea went through 6-2 on aggregate.
Next up was the fourth round of the FA Cup, and another home draw, this time against Aston Villa. Neither side could make the breakthrough, so 0-0 and a replay at Villa Park.
They finished the month with a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, and they were swept aside 4-1 by a determined Liverpool side. It was a sobering defeat after a good run.
February 2024
Wolverhampton Wanderers have become something of a bogey side for Chelsea. They put in a brilliant counter-attacking display to blow Chelsea away 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, although Cole Palmer kept up his impressive goal scoring form. It was another match that Chelsea shouldn’t be losing though, and it brought a bit more pressure on the team to start performing.
The cups had been a great opportunity for them to rebound from defeats, and Chelsea put in one of their best performances of the season in the FA Cup replay at Aston Villa, winning comfortably 3-1 away at a team much higher than them in the league. Could this help put them back on track?
Well, if Wolves had become a bogey team, then Crystal Palace were becoming the exact opposite – a dramatic 3-1 win, with two goals coming in injury time, gave them hope that they could still gain on the teams above them.
Next came title favourites Manchester City, away. The toughest match of the season, and Chelsea put in a really good performance in a 1-1. Matches like this are great, but just add to the frustration of the fans when they don’t perform as well as this more regularly.
They took decent form into the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley. Liverpool were still fighting in four competitions, and were suffering from an injury crisis. No Salah, no Nunez, no Alexander-Arnold, no Jota, no Alisson. This was the perfect chance for Chelsea to remind the country that they were on their way back.
But they fluffed their lines. It was an entertaining final, but like the last three finals between these clubs, it ended goalless in 90 minutes. Chelsea probably had the best chances, but (stop if you’ve heard this before) they couldn’t find the net. Liverpool scored from a corner, and that was that. A 1-0 defeat, and a huge opportunity missed.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the Carabao Cup defeat was pretty much the end of Chelsea’s season, but if anything, this was the point that it finally got started. A 3-2 win over Leeds in the FA Cup saw them through to the quarter finals – thanks to a last minute winner from Conor Gallagher.
March 2024
Back to the Premier League then. A derby away at Brentford was the first match of the month, which saw Axel Disasi head in late on to earn a 2-2 draw. Chelsea fans were getting used to witnessing late comebacks, and for all Chelsea’s issues, the players seemed to be developing a never-say-die attitude, which boded well.
Next up they faced Newcastle United at home – a team that had overtaken them in the Premier League pecking order over the last couple of years. Chelsea outplayed them, though, with goals from Jackson, Sterling and Mudryk completing a 3-2 win. A glimpse of what Chelsea can do when everything clicks.
A potentially awkward tie against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup followed. Leicester were flying in the Championship, but Chelsea were 2-0 up at half time. Tie over? Nope, not with this Chelsea side! Leicester scored twice early in the second half, and despite having a man sent off with 20 minutes to go, looked like they were going to hang on to take it to a replay. But then goals from Chukwuemeka and Madueke in injury time won the match – a pulsating 4-2 cup tie.
The emphasise the frustrating nature of their season, Chelsea FC then met struggling Burnley at home, and conceded a late equaliser to 10 men. It finished 2-2 and it was yet another missed opportunity to get some points on the board.
April
First up in April was a home match against Manchester United, and it was one of the matches of the season. Chelsea went 2-0 up in the first 20 minutes, but quickly fell into the recent habit of giving up leads. United got back into it and then scored a goal to go ahead with 25 minutes left. Chelsea pushed for an equaliser, while United looked threatening on the break – but there were no more goals… Until the 10th minute of injury time, when Cole Palmer held his nerve to equalise from the spot. Jubilation all round Stamford Bridge – but the drama wasn’t finished. Almost immediately from the kick off, Chelsea won the ball and burst forward and Palmer completed his hat trick to secure the most unlikely of 4-3 victories. It was another sensational match at the Bridge.
Two steps forward, one step back. Next up it should have been a comfortable 3 points against Sheffield United, who were already resigned to their position at the bottom of the table. But, yet again, Chelsea failed to hold on to a lead, conceding a late Ollie McBurnie goal as the match finished 2-2. Whenever they looked like they had turned the corner, they followed it up with a disappointing display like this one.
As if to confirm their position as the most unpredictable team in the Premier League, the absolutely smashed Everton at home in their next match. Four goals from Cole Palmer (7 in his last two at Stamford Bridge) and everything looked much more positive again.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it count against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final, though. To be fair, they were the better team for large periods of the game, but for the second time at Wembley, they were left to rue some excellent missed chances, and a Benardo Silva goal was enough to take City to the final. Yet again, plenty of promise, but not quite enough.
This was followed by a mauling away to Arsenal at the Emirates stadium. 5-0, and it really emphasised just how far Chelsea were behind a team that for a long time couldn’t get close to them in the league. Arsenal barely broke sweat and Chelsea were all over the place.
If that was the biggest trough of the season, they were just about to set on the path to the biggest peak. First there was an excellent comeback away to Aston Villa, who would go on to qualify for the Champions League. 2-0 down at half time, Chelsea took advantage of Villa’s injury ravaged squad and fought back to equalise late on through Conor Gallagher. 2-2, and it could have got better for Chelsea, but a late winner was ruled out by VAR.
May
That turnaround was the catalyst for a memorable month. First up was Tottenham Hotspur at home – another team in the hunt for Champions League. Chelsea swept them aside pretty comfortably; a goal in each half for a decent 2-0 win.
Another home London derby followed, this time against West Ham United, and this time it was even more comfortable. Three goals up at half time, they cruised to a 5-0 victory, with Jackson scoring another couple of goals – finally finding some goalscoring form after a difficult campaign.
Then a trip to play Nottingham Forest, who were still battling relegation. With Chelsea having little to play for, you could argue this was a tricky fixture, and it certainly looked that way when ex-player Callum Hudson-Odoi put Forest 2-1 up with less than 20 minutes left. But then Chelsea hit with a couple of sucker-punches from Sterling and Jackson (again!) in the last 10 minutes to take the three points. 3-2.
The final away match saw them head to Brighton, where presumably there were quite a few players confused about which dressing room they were in… Brighton were struggling for form towards the end of the season, and Chelsea did enough to beat them 2-1, with Cole Palmer again amongst the scorers. He was having a sensational season.
Finally, the season came to a close with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. The standout moment of the match was an audacious goal from Caicedo, scored from the halfway line.
That victory meant that Chelsea had won each of their last five matches of the season, which saw them overtake a few rivals into sixth position, and secured them European football for the following season. It was a brilliant run, and gave a lot of Chelsea fans, who may have been concerned about form earlier in the season, plenty of hope for the next year.
And then they sacked the manager…
Chelsea FC Season Review In Brief
I just don’t understand Chelsea Football Club. Does anyone?! I think most fans and pundits expected a transitional season – it would have been a lot to expect Mauricio Pochettino to completely turn around their fortunes instantly. In fact, I’m sure if fans would have been offered an improvement in the league, European football, a decent run in the cups and great form at the end of the season, most would have been happy, wouldn’t they?
That’s what they got, but for whatever reason (and there isn’t enough room in this article to fully delve into the ‘background stuff’ at Chelsea, it was decided that Pochettino and the club should part ways.
So what next? Enzo Maresca has taken charge, but again, it might be a bit much to expect him to hit the ground running – will we have another year of transition?
There are certain players that shone for Chelsea in 2023-24. Cole Palmer obviously was the stand out player and transfer – maybe of the entire league, not just at Chelsea. Conor Gallagher seems to have gone from promising squad player to one of the most important players in the squad, plus Nicolas Jackson was starting to find the net with a lot more regularity towards the end of the season. All of this is a huge cause for optimism.
Whatever happens at Chelsea in 2024-25, we can be sure of one thing. It won’t be boring.
Official Chelsea FC VIP Packages
This season has seen more twists and turns than an M. Night Shyamalan movie for Chelsea. If you want to see how next season pans out, we have some good news – we offer official Chelsea hospitality packages which will not only secure your seat at the game to watch Chelsea FC, but will also let you enjoy a truly fantastic matchday experience. Here are a couple of our favourites:
Captains Bar
The Captain’s Bar lets you experience the thrill of a Chelsea home game in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. You’ll arrive at Stamford Bridge ready and enjoy access to the Captain’s Bar for drinks and a casual vibe – you’ll be given a voucher for a free drink. It’s a great area to soak up the pre-match atmosphere. Your seats are in the heart of the action, with luxury padded seating in the East Stand middle tier guaranteeing a good view of the pitch.
The Captain’s Bar focuses on an authentic matchday atmosphere. During halftime and after the final whistle, you can revisit the bar to discuss the game and celebrate wins or debate the dodgy refereeing with fellow supporters. This package provides an informal Chelsea matchday experience where the primary focus is on the game itself, creating a vibrant, fan-oriented environment.
Under the Bridge
The Under The Bridge package is a wonderful combination of atmosphere and luxury. Here is what you get:
For up to three hours before kick off, you will have access to the incredible Under The Bridge Sports Lounge, where you’ll find a complimentary bar, with beer, wine, house spirits and soft drinks as well as Chef’s Table hot and cold bowl food. When kick off rolls around, you have some of the best seats in the house – luxury seating in the West Stand Upper tier, near the goal line.
At half time, you’ll have a drink voucher to use on the concourse near your seats, and then you can return to the Under The Bridge lounge for an hour after the final whistle to mingle with more fans. There is a smart casual dress code for these packages.
If you are interested in any of these packages, have a look through the upcoming Chelsea fixtures and work out which ones suit you and your guests. Then all you need to do is get in touch with us, and we will help you secure your Chelsea tickets.
