In the fallout of Manchester City being found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them, the football world have been wondering how different things could have been without the giants in the picture, Chelsea fans included.
With the financial breaches spanning from 2009 to 2018, they take up nine years of Premier League and English football history that saw both City and the Blues win several highly sought-after trophies, but many are left wondering if Chelsea could have been better off if their Manchester counterparts had never found a way to be among the best.
It's not entirely clear how different everything could have been, and as it is football, a very unpredictable sport, a lot of this may be guesswork, but we've looked at what would've happened for Chelsea each year if City hadn't broken the rules.
What would've happened between 2009 and 2018
2009/10: Chelsea won the double
The 2009/10 season saw Chelsea win the esteemed double of the Premier League and FA Cup with Man City playing very little part in the failures of their campaign.
The Blues reached the fifth round of the League Cup, but were dispatched on penalties by then-fellow Premier League side Blackburn Rovers with City playing no part in their exit.
In Europe, Chelsea met Inter, led by their former manager José Mourinho, and after losing 2-1 in the away first leg, succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, leading to their departure from the competition in the round of 16.
While City were not directly involved in either of the Blues' cup exits, they did have an impact on their league form which could have made life far more comfortable for their London counterparts if things panned out differently. Roberto Mancini led his side to a double over Chelsea, which contributed to their six defeats throughout the season.
Carlo Ancelotti's sole Premier League win was hardly comfortable as his side finished only one point above Manchester United, but had they not fallen to an enhanced City squad, the margin may have been far more comfortable.
2010/11: A trophyless year
In Ancelotti's second year in charge, Chelsea failed to defend their Premier League and FA Cup crowns as they went trophyless for the first time in three years.
Having pipped United to the prize in the previous season, the Blues were the bridesmaid this time round as they finished second, nine points off the champions. City tied for points, but ended behind due to goal difference.
Chelsea weren't particularly good enough to win the title that season with nine defeats from 38 games, but there is an argument to be made that City impacted that form as after a five-game winning start to the campaign, they were the ones to hand the Blues their first defeat with a 1-0 win at the Etihad.
Ancelotti saw more inconsistent form from that point and despite managing a victory over City in the return fixture, it wasn't enough.
The cups saw a poor return with a third round exit at the hands of Newcastle in the League Cup while Everton dispatched Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup. The Blues did reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but fell to United.
While nothing would have changed much for Chelsea, that season was a turning point for City though as it marked their first trophy win in almost 40 years with FA Cup glory over Stoke City.
2011/12: Cup and European glory but City's first league win
The 2011/12 season was a poor one for Chelsea, but in terms of their club history, it was a landmark campaign that saw them win the Champions League for the first time.
As City won the Premier League for the first time, the Blues finished sixth in the top flight, a dreadful 25 points behind the champions, who pipped United to the prize on goal difference following a dramatic final day win over QPR.
Chelsea finished one point behind Newcastle and having lost to City at the Etihad, an argument could be made that without their opponents' financial advantage, they could have won that game finished one place higher, but with the Blues so far off it that season, they wouldn't have topped the league even when removing City as a contender.
Liverpool were the team to knock Chelsea out of the League Cup, only to lose out to them in the FA Cup final while City did not stand in the way of the Blues' path to European glory.
2012/13: Empty handed again
City showed their dominance over Chelsea once again with a 3-2 victory in the season's curtain-raiser, the Community Shield. The Blues' winless run at the Etihad went on as they lost 2-0 while they drew 0-0 with the Citizens at home to finish third, three points off runners-up City.
The defence of Chelsea's Champions League crown was a failure as a poor group stage saw them sent down to the Europa League, which they went on to win while City crashed out the bottom of their group.
Roberto Mancini's side were the ones to end the FA Cup defence though as a 2-1 victory at Wembley saw them knock the Blues out in the semi-finals, progressing to play soon-to-be relegated Wigan Athletic in the final. While City were stunned by a late Ben Watson winner, Chelsea would have favoured their chances of beating the Latics had they progressed without the Manchester outfit's superior team.
Chelsea also reached the last four of the League Cup, but were knocked out by a 2-0 defeat to eventual winners Swansea City over two legs.
2013/14: Chelsea help City to the crown
The 2013/14 season saw another third-place finish for Chelsea, finishing behind champions City and runners-up Liverpool, having helped the Cityzens get their hands on the prize.
Led by Brendan Rodgers, the Reds looked destined to finally get their hands on a Premier League title, but a disastrous 2-0 defeat to the Blues at Anfield saw them lose significant ground on the final weeks and eventually miss out on the prize. Demba Ba capitalised on a slip by Steven Gerrard to devastate the Liverpool faithful.
City knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup once again, this time coming with a 2-0 triumph in the fifth round which saw them progress to play Wigan, who won at the Etihad to stun the previous year's runners-up once again. The Blues again would have favoured their chances of dispatching the Latics and at least securing a semi-final spot.
Sunderland handed Chelsea their League Cup exit while Atlético Madrid were their slayers in the Champions League.
2014/15: Champions once again
Chelsea triumphed in the Premier League in the 2014/15 season, finishing eight points ahead of second-placed City to claim the crown. Neither of their meetings with the Manchester side ended in victory though as they drew 1-1 home and away.
The two sides didn't meet in any of the cup competitions as the Blues were shocked at home by Bradford City to exit the FA Cup while they defeated Tottenham in the final to win the League Cup. Their Champions League exit came at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
2015/16: A disastrous year
As Leicester City stunned the football world to win the Premier League, the 2015/16 campaign was one to forget for Chelsea as not only did they end it trophyless, they finished 10th in the top flight behind the champions, the usual suspects and Southampton, West Ham and Stoke City.
The Blues lost both meetings with City 3-0 that year as the Manchester side claimed Champions League qualification, but it's hard to imagine a win in either of those games would've changed Chelsea's luck dramatically.
City were on the receiving end of an embarassment from Chelsea though as they were thumped 5-1 in the fifth round of the FA Cup, only for the Blues to exit in the next stage at the hands of Everton.
Stoke sent Chelsea packing in the League Cup while PSG were their European conquerers once again.
2016/17: Latest league title
With a double over City on the way, Chelsea won the Premier League for the fifth and most recent time, with their Manchester counterparts finishing 15 points and two places behind.
The two sides didn't meet in either of the cups as the Blues lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup final and were knocked out of the League Cup by West Ham.
2017/18: Centurions City win the title
The final season of City's suspected finanical breaches saw them claim a record-breaking 100 points to win the Premier League while Chelsea finished in fifth, 30 points away from the prize.
The Cityzens managed another league double over the Blues on their way to victory while Chelsea claimed the FA Cup with a win over City's rivals Manchester United. Arsenal knocked their London foes out of the League Cup in the semi-finals before losing to City in the final.
There was still no European meeting between the two sides either as Chelsea were defeated by Barcelona in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
What could've been different
Surprisingly, there wasn't an overwhelming amount that could have been different for Chelsea had City not boasted the advantage they did.
City may have impacted the Blues' form on multiple occasions while Chelsea could have claimed some more cups and a Community Shield if the Manchester side weren't around, but to the surprise of many, nothing drastic would have changed.
Chelsea were still a dominant force, winning three of the leagues in the nine-year period that City allegedly broke the rules while also claiming a Champions League, three FA Cups, a League Cup and Community Shield. City on the other hand also won three titles with one FA Cup, three League Cups and one Community Shield added to their roll of honour.
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