In a season of transition, Chelsea rode a roller coaster led by a new coach and young players. Many players stepped up and were the players of the year.
Maurizio Sarri stood on the pitch moments after the trophy presentation. He was alone in his thoughts after leading Chelsea to victory in the Europa League final. It was the 61-year old’s first trophy as a manager.
The Italian breathed deeply and looked down at the winner’s medal in his hands. He spoke no words, but his awakened eyes told the story. In his first drama fueled year as a coach of a Premier League team, he finally won a trophy. He cracked a wry smile, barely noticeable, and carried on in quiet satisfaction.
It was Sarri’s last match as Chelsea manager. On July 1st, he became the coach at the most successful club in Italy, Juventus.
Three days later, the Blues hired a club legend with one year of managerial experience, Frank Lampard, to lead their club. CFC was also under a cloud. They had been handed a transfer ban for two windows.
Chelsea fans were left with the excitement mixed with fear that comes from jumping on a rickety roller coaster at a traveling carnival.
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The 2019-20 season has truly been a wild looping ride. Last September, CFC started a six-match winning streak, which was followed by four losses out of their next five. After this terrifying run, the club got results in four of their next five, winning three.
When the Premier League paused, Chelsea had lost a substantial lead in the race for an automatic Champions League slot. The gap between them, in fourth position, and Manchester United was down to three points.
Chelsea fielded the sixth youngest squad in the Top Flight. Though it was not by design, many young players used their opportunities to shine like the supermoon.