Chelsea has finished the season with a trophy in hand. But between the ban, managerial uncertainty, and Eden Hazard leaving, the main question is now what?
There are few summers where Chelsea has a clear direction to go in and this year is no different. Maurizio Sarri has just won his first piece of silverware, but his future is by no means clear. Chelsea could avoid a transfer ban yet, but as things stand, it is coming sooner rather than later. And Eden Hazard is departing leaving a gaping hole in the squad.
Chelsea has not had this much uncertainty since, well, last summer. This season was supposed to be the great big restart and it has felt more like the great big stall which last happened in 2012/2013 (2015/2016 was more of a regression than a stall). So the Blues enter the summer with a great big sense of “now what?” seeping into everything.
Sarri was brought in to bring attacking, attractive football to the Bridge as well as bringing youth players through, making the Champions League, and perhaps winning silverware along the way.
It would be untrue to call the football particularly attacking or attractive and Sarri hemmed hawed half a season away before giving Callum Hudson-Odoi or Ruben Loftus-Cheek a fair shake. On those facets, it is perhaps best to call it a work in progress. Sarri did achieve the Champions League target and won the Europa League at the end.
On the surface, that would be enough to guarantee him another season. But much like Rafa Benitez, Sarri has done all those things while building no connection to the fan base at large. Football has ultimately always been a form of entertainment, and if the fans are not satisfied with the product, then it does not matter how “good” or “bad” the product is.
It is this lack of connection that has created a prevailing sense that Sarri sees his time at Chelsea as short. It is this lack of connection that despite his achievements, many would not be sad to see him depart. Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte were loved to the end because of their connection. Benitez and Sarri not so much.
With Juventus, Roma, and likely AC Milan lurking, it would not be surprising at all to see Sarri and Chelsea mutually part for situations that suit them better. Sarri can now go out on a high and Chelsea can start the hunt for a manager who gives himself more leeway with fans. It could continue yet as well, but there will be no room for error next season and the signs are pointing towards a split.
The managerial “now what” is tied to the transfer ban “now what”. As it stands, the Blues have not yet appealed the ban and the window has been open for nearly two weeks now. The Blues are behind every other club in the world already. The plan appears to be to accept the ban now, bring in the academy and loan army, and then hit the market on level playing terms next summer when the ban is complete.
It is a risky strategy with managerial uncertainty, two key players with long term injuries, and Eden Hazard sure to depart. The Belgian was open about his feelings after the final and he was a major part of everything Chelsea achieved this season. Without Hazard, the Blues lose their main attacking threat and one of the two world class players in the squad.
That too could force Sarri’s hand when considering job offers. It is one thing to not be able to buy and strengthen the squad in the market. It is another to lose the best player and be unable to replace him.
With all that uncertainty, the Blues have no direction. They are standing at the cross roads watching Hazard drive off, seeing the transfer market route closed for construction, and seeing Sarri deciding whether to cut and run or not. The future is hardly clear for Chelsea until any of these big “now whats” are confirmed.
Managerial uncertainty, transfer ban uncertainty, best player leaving uncertainty. This summer will be truly telling in the course of Chelsea’s future.