One of only seven clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League, the Blues have evolved from 90’s also-rans to one of the powerhouses of English football. Such has been their success that they've even gone on to conquer Europe, but we’re not interested in that, it’s the bread and butter we’re interested in: the toughest and most exciting league in the world.
We’ve rated Chelsea’s top ten Premier League seasons, not necessarily by points totals, but the performance of their team and the impact it had on the club.
10. Season: 2018/19
Position: 3rd
We start with a season of turmoil.
The Blues finished third in 2019, well off the pace of Manchester City and Liverpool. Despite finishing a whole 26 points behind eventual champions Manchester City, the job the team did that season cannot be downplayed.
Never has a manager so publicly seemed destined to leave a club for such a large portion of the season. It seemed Sarri was heading for pastures new from about November. Still, he stayed at the helm, secured Champions League football against all the odds and gave incoming boss Frank Lampard the platform where he now stands.
Special mention to Eden Hazard, (let’s be honest, he was only playing so he could achieve his dream move) the Belgian single handedly dragged the club to the top four that year.
9. Season: 2002/03
Position: 4th
A monumental season for the club, as they qualified for the Champions League for only the second time in their history. Chelsea were far from minnows in the early 2000s, but Ranieri certainly got the best out of what he had at the club.
Ranieri guided his team to fourth in the league (PRE-ABRAMOVICH BILLIONS), and laid the foundations for the success that was yet to come.
8. Season: 2007/08
Position: 2nd
Finished runners up on 85 points, only missing out because of Ronaldo, Rooney & co. There’s no shame whatsoever in coming second to the 2008 Champions League winners.
This season saw the demise of Jose Mourinho as he left the club just a month into the season after a fall out with owner Abramovich. Incoming Avram Grant steadied the ship and led the side to second (and to be honest, any side finishing second under Avram Grant deserves a mention).
7. Season: 2006/07
Position: 2nd
Another second placed finish, yet again being edged out by Sir Alex Ferguson’s United. Had Chelsea gone on to win the Premier League in 2007, they would have become just the fifth side in English football history, dating back to 1888, to retain the title twice (ten points if you can name the other four). This goes to show the magnitude of the achievement this squad were so close to.
6. Season: 2009/10
Position: 1st
Finally, a season where they won the league!
Carlo Ancelotti worked absolute wonders on this team, breaking a whole host of Premier League records on their way to securing their first title since the departure of Mourinho. They broke the record for most goals scored and highest goal difference in Premier League history.
With some questioning if Didier Drogba was still up to the task at 32 year of age, Ancelotti reinvigorated the Ivorian as he finished top scorer that year too.
5. Season 2014/15
Position: 1st
The first of our Mourinho triumphs on the list. A total of 87 points, Chelsea romped to Premier League triumph, finishing eight points above their nearest challengers Manchester City.
What can’t be underestimated about this season is Mourinho’s ability to spot an issue and resolve it. Chelsea finished third the previous season behind Liverpool and Manchester City, and the reason they finished behind these two clubs wasn’t their defensive frailties – they actually conceded ten less than City and a massive 23 less than Liverpool – their issue was creativity and goalscoring.
So what did Mourinho do? He bought Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
Genius.
4. Season: 2003/04
Position: 2nd
This one may seem a strange one mixed in with all these title winning seasons but let me explain. Abramovich’s first season as Chelsea owner and subsequently Ranieri’s last season in charge.
The Blues finished second - no mean feat competing with Wenger and Fergie at their peak - meaning they qualified for next season’s Champions League, and there’s no way newly-crowned Champions League winner Mourinho would take over a club not in Europe’s premier competition – his appointment didn’t turn out too badly. The season was the catalyst for what was to come for the Blues.
3. Season: 2005/06
Position: 1st
Chelsea retained their title for the first time in their 101 year history. With 14 wins from their first 16 games, the Blues already had one hand on the trophy by December.
This season often goes unheralded given their record breaking 04/05 campaign, but 91 points in the toughest league in the world is nothing short of remarkable.
2. Season: 2016/17
Position: 1st
In Antonio Conte’s first season at the club they achieved a new club-record 13 consecutive wins. The season started terribly, going down 3-0 at rivals Arsenal and picking up just a single point in the month of September, languishing in eighth position.
Following the defeat to their London rivals, Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation and never looked back. The Blues went on to storm the league, amassing a points total of 93 having looked all but out of the title race by October. An incredible turnaround, but not quite worth of our number 1 spot.
1. Season: 2004/05
Position: 1st
There could only be one winner.
Everyone remembers this team.
Carvalho and Terry in front of the man-mountain Cech, Makelele sitting, Lampard bombing on, Duff and Robben flying either side of Drogba. Even non-Chelsea fans can remember this team fondly.
Most away wins (15), most clean sheets (25), fewest away goals conceded (9), most wins in a season (29), fewest goals conceded (15).
This team ripped up the rule book, achieving a then record 95 Premier League points. Surely one of the greatest ever Premier League teams.
Source : 90min