Last term, the Blues couldn’t follow up their 2014-15 title win with a proper defence of any sorts, and actually looked relegation-bound at a point in time.
Mourinho had to be let go, with Hiddink brought in to help savage some points and make anything worthwhile of Chelsea’s season with some few months to go.
A 10th place on the log after the end of the campaign was the best the club could do, and the necessary changes were made pronto.
A new coach and a couple of new players all meant the club had a clean slate for the new season, and heading into it, not many were expecting that much from a team that was set to start all over again in an attempt to reclaim lost glory.
Performance expectations
While Conte is known for being a task master, all that was expected from Chelsea as the new season kicked in was simply a good form and performance level.
As far as a top 4 finish goes, a few counted Chelsea worthy, no thanks to the massive changes and plenty eye-watering summer recruitment processes going on at Manchester.
Moreover, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and even defending champs Leicester City, had better chances of getting the remainder of those top spots, even though the same mission was the management’s least target upon acquiring the Italian tactician.
Nevertheless, it was just normal that it would take a lot for Chelsea to force their way back into reckoning following their fall in the preceding season.
Anything around a 6th place finish would do considering how stiff the competition was going to be. Rebuilding takes time, and Chelsea weren’t going to turn overnight title or top 4 contenders when starting from the scratch was always going to be the major mission.
Performance reality
Fortunately for the Stamford Bridge outfit, the table says different after 11 Premier League games.
Back to back losses against Liverpool and Arsenal condemned them to 8th place after 6 games, but the swift change of fortunes that followed has seen them stroll to 5 consecutive victories, with 16 goals scored and none conceded. They currently sit just a point adrift the top spot.
They are the most feared team in England at the moment following how they seem to have mastered brilliance and result-targeted performances both in attack and in defence. No team is as complete as they are.
They not only look far more than capable of claiming a position in the top 4 spots, Chelsea are already being considered as real title contenders, and many believe they could go all the way to reclaim it come May.
Style of play expectations
Mourinho definitely and undoubtedly defined Chelsea’s style of play over the last decade. Think “park the bus”, think Chelsea.
And while the method worked to great perfection, it fell apart last season and many were eager to see how Conte will turn the team into a great defensive unit once more, without being overly rigid and packing players behind the ball.
Having played a 3-5-2 formation in his long reign at Turin and finally with the Italian national team, many doubted if that would last a match in the topflight.
However, it was still believed regardless of whatever tactic he chose to employ, turning the team to a steel-like unit at both ends of the pitch was expected of him given how he did exactly that with Juventus and the Azzurris.
Style of play reality
Conte and the team played around 3 different formations until they arrived at the current 3-4-3, and its success has made many marvel.
Not only has he brought that age-long defensive solidness back, Chelsea have taken a new approach to how to keep opposition’s attack at bay, keeping 5 straight clean sheets, and becoming real explosive at the other end.
Nobody could have predicted this. Even the most optimistic fan would only have just had faith in Conte to make the team able to fight for the wins again.
That isn’t happening, Chelsea are strolling to victories every other matchday, and the playing style continues to bring out the best in everybody.
Squad quality expectations
As a unit, Chelsea were a total mess last season, and it wasn’t until the last few games of the season that they played any good football by all standard.
The expectations for them this season was that the old players would hopefully regain their lost forms and zeal, while the new additions – Kante, Batshuayi and Alonso would help provide much-needed depth and competition.
Squad quality reality
Every other player in the starting XI and some of the fringe players have surpassed expectations.
Hazard, Costa (including his new-found discipline), Moses, Matic, Courtois, Pedro and Chalobah just to mention a few have all produced performances far from what was expected of them this term following their forms in the last 12 months.
Conclusion
Sir Alex Ferguson is about the only one on earth yet to be convinced of Chelsea’s title credentials.
Perhaps, winning it come May would help clear the doubts of the legendary manager. Anyone who belittles this team’s chances of a title victory does so at her peril.