The final day of the 2021/22 season was a very different scenario for Chelsea. A spot in the Premier League's top four had been reserved as the Blues faced an already relegated Watford.
Thomas Tuchel led in his side in the sun with a team that included Saul Niguez and Kenedy, while Antonio Rudiger played his last game for the Blues. Ben Chilwell made his return from the bench after months of work to overcome his ACL injury while Ross Barkley scored an injury time winner to ensure Chelsea finished the season with three points.
The west London side finished the term with Club World Cup success and missed out to Liverpool in two cup finals but more than anything a sense of relief was palpable around Stamford Bridge. It was a year that had threatened the survival of the club in some regards and while many will have been disappointed to wave goodbye to a successful era of football under Roman Abramovich, there was anticipation over what would come next.
