Can Chelsea go from 10th to title again?

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Chelsea are trying to assess whether a major turnaround is possible under new manager Xabi Alonso after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season. The piece looks back at a similar Chelsea season a decade ago, when they also ended 10th before bouncing back to win the title under Antonio Conte the following year.

The analysis says Chelsea’s recent league record is close to their 2015-16 numbers, and notes that the team again has no European football this season. BBC’s data analysis suggests that clubs from England’s traditional top sides have often improved in the league when they play once a week, which could help Chelsea focus on domestic matches. The article also points to Chelsea’s underlying performance last season, arguing that their league position may have understateed how competitive they were in terms of chances created.

A key issue last season was finishing, with Chelsea scoring fewer goals than expected from their chance quality. BBC Sport notes that a poor run in March and April contributed heavily to that shortfall. The article says a tactical shift, similar to Conte’s move to a back three in 2016-17, could be an option for Alonso, whose Bayer Leverkusen side won the Bundesliga unbeaten. While the report stresses that repeating Chelsea’s previous title surge would be difficult, it argues the combination of a lighter schedule, room for improvement, and Alonso’s track record makes a climb up the table possible.