There are several areas that Chelsea needs to fix, and fans need to prepare for a down period. By this, I mean a season with very low expectations. This season saw the Blues pressured with the Champions of Europe title hanging over their heads. They came into the season as title favourites and were tipped to retain the Champions League trophy.
It's always a rude awakening when you realise that the club is still a bit away from possibly becoming Premier League champions again. There are a number of potholes to address, and Thomas Tuchel will have to handle each situation one by one. Brace yourself, Blues. We are in the process of a rebuild, and it could take more than a year.
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It is very rare for Chelsea to go a season without a trophy. In fact, the record shows that it has only happened four times since 2004. Whether it's a domestic title or a European one, the Blues will win something. To top it off, Thomas Tuchel is not a happy loser. He likes to fight until the very end and wants to win trophies. That is the heritage of Chelsea football club, and that's why he has fit in so well since his arrival.
The Blues will need to strengthen in multiple places if they are to close the gap to Manchester City. In order of priority, they'll need to address the defence, the midfield and the attack. Despite it being an urgent necessity, I cannot imagine a world where Chelsea acquires new owners and spend a ridiculous amount of money in their first window. It just wouldn't make sense from a business perspective. Tuchel may have to prioritise, meaning that he will need more than one window to assemble his dream team.
Considering the loss of two integral centre-backs, Tuchel's wishlist will consist of replacements for them. Jules Kounde has been heavily linked since last summer's transfer window and remains the priority target for this summer. A replacement for Antonio Rudiger may be more difficult to come across. A new centre-back would need patience from the fans in adjusting to the fast-paced Premier League, as will a new attacker.
I cannot remember the last time that Chelsea bought in an attacker who instantly adjusted to the league. Kai Havertz is a great example. He struggled to find his feet. However, we can now hail him as one of Chelsea's most crucial attackers. It took a while for him to adapt, but it has most certainly paid off.
Tuchel has done well to cultivate the players he was given upon arrival. Realistically he's only made one signing and has made it work when no one else thought it was possible. When he joined Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp was allowed several years to create the monstrous team that he has now. It should be the same route that Tuchel could take, but at least he already has a Champions League and Club World Cup trophy to his name.
The message here today is simply patience. Chelsea will get to a place where no team will want to play against them. They're already halfway there.
