Chelsea started the season coming off the high of beating a formidable PSG side in the FIFA Club World Cup final. Enzo Maresca had finished the 2024-25 season fourth, and had just won the UEFA Conference League.
The tactical nous Maresca showed in the final against PSG made many think Chelsea would be aiming for something higher the following season. It did not go according to plan, though.
Blues fans very quickly found themselves needing to make excuses for the Italian coach, excuses that didn't quite cut it.
Maresca continued playing players out of positions, and repeatedly delivered subpar results. As a result, things quickly turned sour behind the scenes forcing the Italian to throw the towel in and depart.
From then on, the side continued poorly. They were awful from set pieces and lacked the cutting edge in the final third — likely a reflection of how Maresca left things — and there wasn't enough time for the next manager to change it.
Out goes Enzo Maresca, in comes Liam Rosenior
When Maresca left, the Blues sat in fifth place, but remained a hefty 15 points behind the league leaders.
Liam Rosenior walked through the door and seemed to say all the right things. He backed himself, and encouraged everyone to give him a chance, and they did. What a mistake that turned out to be!
Don't get me wrong, Rosenior started off great. He won four out of his first seven games in charge, and six out of his first nine but couldn't find a way to get the better of Arsenal.
Things took a turn for the worst in March when Rosenior blamed one of three defeats to Arsenal on first choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, and subsequently dropped him. The effects did not immediately show though. Not until the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 game against PSG when Filip Jorgensen started in goal.
Chelsea lost that game 5-2, and everything went downhill from there. From that PSG game, the Blues went on to lose six of their next seven games, ending in the Englishman getting the sack after just 104 days in charge.
When Rosenior was shown the door, the two-time Champions League winners had lost five of their last five league games.
Welcome Calum McFarlane, for the second time this season
If you recall, when Maresca was sacked in January, McFarlane took control of two games. Drawing one and losing the other.
He came back again after Rosenior was sacked, and took control of the last five games of the season, including the FA Cup final against Man City.
The interim head coach won just one game, drawing another and losing three.
Season Rating: 3/10
This rating is as low as it is because the expectations were reasonable. After coming in third, and showing good tactical expertise against PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final, everyone expected Chelsea to at least try to compete in the Premier League.
Chelsea spent money too, and Maresca picked who he wanted, and his picks were ultimately not good enough. Maresca and Rosenior combined to Chelsea slipping to 10th — Rosenior more than Maresca.
The only chance to salvage the season came in the FA Cup final, but despite a spirited performance, it was not to be.
Looking forward: Xabi Alonso's time!
Chelsea announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager, despite everyone expecting Liverpool to make a move. The Reds didn't, and the Blues benefited with the 44-year-old set to take charge from July 1.
Alonso will first need to clean up the squad, and do away with those who aren't in his plans, before he can start looking for players to buy for the new season.
Alonso was the man behind Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga title two seasons ago. He also got to the final of the Europa League, but lost to Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta side.
Chelsea should be looking to get back into the Champions League next season, especially with only one game per week. Who knows, maybe even a league charge, considering nine other teams are competing in Europe next season.
Chelsea’s season was a waste, but perhaps not a complete waste since the appointment of Alonso came out of it.
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