Chelsea's 2022/23 season could be one of real hope with new ownership or one of real dread with uncertainty over how sustainable their position among the European elite will continue to be.
Thomas Tuchel and his staff are anxiously awaiting to see who the new owners of the club will be with the end of April set to give supporters a clearer picture of where the Blues are set to go post-Roman Abramovich. In the German's mind, whoever the owner is will have the capacity to maintain the club's current status due to the money it would take to purchase the club for the £3billion asking price outright.
"It is a huge amount of money," the head coach said in a press conference before the international break. "That’s why I am also confident because I think if somebody buys a club for this kind of money then it’s about challenging at the highest kind of level, then it’s about trophies, then it’s about winning and it’s about being the best you can. It's not about developing a project, it's not about making money with the club."
Regardless of who was to come in, there are certain things they would need to do to ensure that the current world and European champions don't fall into a mediocre state come the start of the 2022/23 Premier League seaso. football.london details the three things that could contribute to Chelsea's immediate downfall if not attended to.
Thomas Tuchel gone
The German's future in west London has been thrown up in the air since Jamie Carragher recommended that Man United were to take a look at Chelsea's manager. However, United haven't so far made a move for Tuchel with it expected too much of a complicated operation to complete at this current moment and instead, they are ploughing ahead with their Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino plans.
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This doesn't mean the Blues are completely out of the woods in this instance. Numerous other clubs like Real Madrid are set to be on the look for their next manager with Carlo Ancelotti expected to either be sacked or leave come the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign. On top of this, managers of a previous regime usually don't last, so depending on who the new owners are, they may not share Tuchel's vision for the future and therefore this could even cause him to walk. That's exactly why he has gone on record to commit his love to the club but also admit that he's taking a day-to-day approach regarding his position in SW6.
"Me? If I stay till the end of the season? Sure, there is no doubt that I stay until the end of the season. Absolutely," he said in a recent press conference. Petr Cech though, the technical and performance director wasn't as certain when he addressed the fans pre-Newcastle: "Thomas (Tuchel) is contracted until 2024 and as it stands, the contracts should be able to run through until they are meant to finish and we hope to have him as a coach because since has come in he has been absolutely brilliant, but it is another thing because tomorrow, the situation could change and my answer is then irrelevant."
The Ricketts will become Chelsea's new owners
The four-way ownership race is really heating up now but it seems the Chicago Cubs owners have been a helping hand by Bruce Buck and co to try and ease the fan backlash that has persisted since their interest was registered. Buck had arranged for members of the family to meet icon Paul Canoville to settle any racism issues and slowly but surely, they seem to be edging their way close to the Stamford Bridge helm. This has caused Chelsea fans to unite in large numbers with the #NoToRicketts campaign continuing to gain traction.
Not just. that though, 19,000 plus fans have signed a petition against their potential ownership and enforced their voice and views upon proceedings, a protest has been set up in SW6 ahead of the west London derby on Saturday. Whether or not that has the desired impact remains to be seen. But, the strong relationship between Raine Group and Ricketts means that despite all the backlash on social media, there is a real possibility that Tom Ricketts and co are given the keys to the club if they are eventually picked over a Todd Boehly or Sir Martin Broughton consortium.
Triple exodus to Barcelona
It's been known for a little while now that both Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen are to become Xavi's new lieutenants in the summer, despite the news emerging that the Blues have triggered the one-year extension option in the contract of the Spaniard. This means there is a good chance that Barcelona may have to pay a minimal transfer fee if they are to sign the versatile defender who has remained coy on his future over the most recent international break.
One thing though that wasn't expected over the international break was secret Barcelona talks with Blues star Antonio Rudiger's representatives as the Catalan giants now aim to inflict triple pain on the current European and World Champions who are undergoing a transition. Despite talk of a triple Barcelona transfer swoop, star forward Kai Havertz has already committed his future to the club for next season at least despite fresh Bayern Munich approach.
