The 2022/23 Premier League season has barely finished and already attention has firmly turned to next term. Fixtures will be released in seven days time and clubs will begin to be able to build a picture of what they are working towards ready to kick things off in August.
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back under new management in Mauricio Pochettino, and hoping to quickly forget their 12th-placed finish and realise loftier aspirations. The club's ownership even commented on Thursday of the dreams to 'transform' the Blues to challenge for the Premier League, cups and in European comeptition.
Pochettino will have wait at least 12 months before being able to launch an assault on such aspirations with no European football on offer for the Blues. That will however, mean a reduced schedule for the new Chelsea boss to prepare his team within.
Last season was an anomaly in many ways, no less with the World Cup being in the middle of it. That ensured a longer season for all clubs, and a reduced pre-season last summer in addition to an intense schedule that formed as a result.
The Blues, for example, played nine matches in October and another four in the following two weeks, leaving little time for Graham Potter to become acquainted with his squad after being appointed. Work during the week was predominantly recovery and match preparation.
Pochettino, will not suffer that same schedule and while that will mean less opportunities for some players, it will allow the chance for Chelsea to purely focus on the Premier League and cup compeitions. Of course, being in European competition would be preferable but on the west London side's last foray outside of Europea, they won their last Premier League title.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: 'Done deal', Neymar meeting, Kovacic hint, Caicedo favourite
That may be too lofty a goal with the work required at Stamford Bridge but it will provide a unique opportunity for the Blues to bounce back. West Ham prevailing in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday evening has ensured eight teams will be competing in Europe and the Premier League next term, and a number will be facing a new challenge in terms of balancing their resources.
Newcastle United, Brighton and Aston Villa will all have to deal with a more congested fixture list and the pressures that come with it, while the Hammers have already shown that European adventures can come with more difficulty in the league after experiencing a relegation-threatened season. Even Arsenal, familiar with European football, will face a greater challenge in perhaps having to rely on their first team players more frequently with a stiffer test in the Champions League than the Europa.
Providing Chelsea's bloated squad is resolved, Pochettino will have more time to fix the club's fitness issues and to implement his ethos upon the players. It is difficult to project what the Blues can do but in the league at least, the platform is set for improvement.
Have your say on Chelsea's season and what comes next!
READ NEXT:
Declan Rice to Arsenal negotiations offer Chelsea perfect £80m transfer opportunity
Mauricio Pochettino has 12 untouchables at Chelsea as Todd Boehly faces major transfer clearout
