2. The Premier League
Chelsea quickly fell away from the title race last season. They were soon struggling to make the top 4. Winning the Champions League was the only route back into the competition. Once outside the top 4, it did not matter where they finished in the league. Having lavished money on Hazard, Oscar, Moses, Azpilicueta and Marin, such a poor performance at home will not be accepted. The side will be expected to mount challenges on several fronts, and Di Matteo will do well to juggle the different competitions. The opening round draw to Juventus does not leave much margin for error either. FC Nordsjaelland will be the whipping boys of the group; Juventus showed their class on Wednesday, while a trip Donetsk is never easy. Chelsea should still finish in the top two, given Shaktar are such woeful travellers but Chelsea cannot afford to be flippant in either Champions or Premier League. If they are in the title race come April, the massive tests of the Champions League may be a bridge too far.
Alan Frost
Contributor
Reporting on football and sports at large since 2007. Written for Channel 5, BT, the PFA, the Football Ramble amongst many, many others.
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