If I had somehow travelled back in time and told my seven-year-old self, decked out in the 2004/05 Chelsea home kit, that I would one day write about the club we followed, my younger version would have nodded and said: "sounds about right".
This has been a dream job, something that has taught me much about journalism, football, tactics, supporters, players, and transfers – oh lots about transfers.
Of course, when covering Chelsea you expect the unexpected. But my time from August 2021 until December 2022 when you are reading this piece saw arguably the barmiest period in the club's entire history. The sale of the club from Roman Abramovich, sanctions from the UK Government, an intense takeover process, two cup final defeats on penalties, becoming World Champions, the shock sacking of Thomas Tuchel and a winter World Cup.
