Chelsea have been in prime shape this season and are looking odds on favourites to win the title this season in the Premier League. But they have been pretty consistent in the European scene as well and are considered among the top four contenders in the UCL. Having already won the league cup, the question is, can Chelsea win the treble of Premier League and Champions League? Well, here is the analysis that leads to the answer.
Premier League scenario.
Chelsea have a real edge in the Premier League with fellow contenders and title holders Manchester City trailing them by 5 points while the Blues also have a game in hand. Chelsea have lost only 2 games this season and have shown remarkable consistency and adaptability to win games and gather points. As the season enters its last 10-11 games, Chelsea’s 5 point lead and potentially 8 point lead looks like it would yield Jose Mourinho the Premier League title. After all, he just has to maintain his form and win the games.
Players like Fabregas, Hazard, Costa, Matic and Terry have been superb this season and add to it the competition at the goalkeeper’s spot, which makes the selection tough for Mourinho with two genuinely world class keepers at his disposal and has had Thibaut Courtois as the main man.
While the league remains the best trophy for Chelsea, which is a real possibility, we also look at what would happen in the Champions League.
The UCL Scenario.
Chelsea are pitted against Paris Saint Germain and beating them is no easy task as Chelsea have to get over their French obstacle if at all they have to win the tournament. PSG have been tough opponents last time, and this time though Chelsea are in good form, we can still be wary that PSG will try to force their way into the next round with the quality that they possess.
Chelsea have the team balance and the resilience to win the big games and certainly the away goal at Paris would help them at the Bridge. Chelsea’s style of play has been very good this season with the new signings, giving the Blues a real dimension to their approach play in the UCL games.
There is likely to be more time and space in the UCL games to show real skill and technique than relying solely on pace, power and stamina only, like most Premier League teams pose against Chelsea. So technical players in midfield like Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard, Oscar and now Juan Cuadrado offer Chelsea a real way to play as a proper European heavyweight than just a domestic bully.
Conclusion: What are the chances?
Chelsea winning the Premier League is very likely because of the position they are in. The points gap and the style of football, the Mourinho factor and general inconsistency of Manchester City in competing give us a clear favourite and there is as high as 95% chance that Chelsea would win the Premier League for the first time in five seasons.
Chelsea’s UCL campaign can be a tough call to make, but looking at how well things have panned out so far, meaning they have remained unbeaten throughout, means that Chelsea can win the tournament. But winning such a big tournaments with rivals of similar or higher standards like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona etc, there is always the feeling that it would be tough. Thus, Chelsea’s chances of winning the UCL is a sharp 60-40 in Chelsea’s favour. So given the odds, Chelsea are likely to easily complete the double, but winning the treble is possible, but is a pretty handful task for Jose, who remains ambitious as ever.