Well, my friends, we finally made it to the end of the worst season in the recent history of Chelsea. We honestly deserve a lot of credit for sticking it out this long after so many excruciatingly painful losses, ridiculous off-the-field storylines, and general incompetence at all levels of the club.
The beginning of Todd Boehly’s ownership has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster, but fortunately, it would be nearly impossible for things to get worse next year. Mauricio Pochettino’s managerial appointment should be made official shortly after the Blues’ final game on Sunday, which will hopefully start the much-needed healing process for players and fans alike. Things need to improve. And the sooner everyone associated with CFC puts the 2022/23 campaign behind them, the better.
Betting on the final matchday of the season is always a tricky proposition, as so many sides have absolutely nothing to play for, while others are literally fighting to continue their own existence. I tend to have faith in the desperate teams in that kind of scenario, even if their opponent is clearly superior, as the big-time players tend to lack motivation when their position on the table is already fully determined. Neither Chelsea or Newcastle is in this position on Sunday, though, with the Blues locked in right below 10th and the Magpies qualified for European competition for the first time since 2012/13.