Chelsea were unable to replicate their achievements of last season when they won a League-Cup double in Carlo Ancelotti’s first season in charge. They started the season strongly but lost ground midway through and, in spite a good finish, could not catch up with eventual champions Man Utd in the final furlong. They disappointingly went out to the Mancunians in the Champions League and could not add a cup to their trophy stand. Ancelotti’s main summer reinforcement was Brazil international Ramires, who settled well in the side after a period of adaptation. Yossi Benayoun also joined from Liverpool but a serious injury meant he spent most of the season on the sidelines. The Italian initially kept faith in the 4-3-3 set up he had employed to great effect last season, with Drogba, Anelka and Malouda in the attack, supported by Lampard and Essien in midfield. Jon Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou also featured often due to injury to Lampard, which sidelined the England midfielder till Christmas. John Terry and Alex started the season in central defence with Cole and Ivanovic at full backs. The Blues started the season ominously with back-to back 6-0 wins home and away and led the way in the table till mid November, when the wind suddenly stopped blowing in their sails. They suffered their first defeat of the season at Liverpool, and went through a six-game winless streak that extended till the New Year, by which time they were playing catch up with Arsenal and Man Utd. Carlo Ancelotti’s broke the bank in January to bring in Fernando Torres from Liverpool, along with David Luiz from Benfica. The logic behind the Torres transfer was understandable since Didier Drogba was arguably not as decisive as he had been in seasons gone by while Anelka’s goal rate had also gone down. However, the Spaniard had a nightmare start to his Chelsea career, failing to find the net in his first 13 appearances for the Blues. Torres ended the season on one solitary goal from eight starts and six substitute appearances. David Luiz, much to the contrary, was an instant hit and settled immediately in the back line, chipping in with a few goals for good measure. In the Champions League, the Blues made good ground and easily progressed to the quarter-final against Man Utd. But Ancelotti’s insistence on starting Torres for both games seemed to inhibit Chelsea and they lost the first leg at home, which left them with too much to do at Old Trafford in the return leg. A six-game winning streak after that kept them in contention to topple Man Utd in the League with two games to go but defeat at Old Trafford on May 8th left them needing snookers. In spite of securing a second place finish, Carlo Ancelotti was unceremoniously sacked at the end of the season and the Blues are now preparing for another season under a new manager, their seventh in as many seasons, as their elusive quest for the Champions League goes on.
