Why Chelsea could end up a “victim of their own success” in World Cup sandwich year | OneFootball

Chelsea finished the season really strong, putting together a strong run to get into the Champions League. They then kept that momentum up, winning the Club World Cup in the USA.

Since then, they’ve signed some really promising players. Everyone who supports the club is feeling good and confident, but on the London is Blue podcast they had some words of warning about overconfidence.

Accumulated fatigue could take edge off Chelsea’s impressive summer

Chelsea lift the Club World Cup. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

“What I’m worried about is that it’s 50 games on top of however many this summer, on top of however many last season,” presenter Brandon Busbee said.

“Going to the Conference League final and that. And you’ve got players like Enzo, Cole Palmer, the other internationals, that are gonna talk to the club about making sure they’re not pushing or risking too much ahead of a World Cup. We might be a victim of our own success.”

It certainly is going to be a uniquely difficult season to manage physically. It feels like just yesterday we saw the guys lifting the CWC trophy. The idea that they’re going to be back in league action in two weeks just feels mad.

Chelsea are good – but jump to top 3 is huge challenge

Co-presenter Nick Verlaney agreed that it could be a more challenging season than some expect given the huge bubble of optimism we’re all enjoying right now, post Club World Cup success:

“You’re gonna have to gun for at least 80 points to be in that top 3, to really be cemented up there [in the Premier League],” he pointed out.

“So I think it’s going to be a big jump up from 68 points to get another 12 above where we were last year, potentially. But I think the team is capable.”