Chelsea FC finished 10th in the Premier League last season, but the Blues are looking to repeat the feat of winning the title after finishing 10th just a year ago. Can they improve their points tally and win the title under new manager Xabi Alonso?
What happened last season?
Chelsea FC finished 10th in the Premier League last season, with 52 points from 38 games. They scored 58 goals and conceded 52, with a goal difference of +6. This season, they are 33 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Why it matters for Chelsea FC
The Blues were better than their lowly 10th-place finish last season suggests. Based on their underlying expected goal numbers, Chelsea were the fourth-most dominant team in the Premier League. However, they struggled to take their chances, scoring eight fewer goals than they should have, given the number and quality of shots they took.
What comes next?
Chelsea FC's new manager, Xabi Alonso, will be looking to improve the team's points tally and win the title. With a similar situation to 10 years ago, when Chelsea finished 10th but went on to win the title, the Blues may be able to repeat the feat. However, improving the club's points tally by a whopping 43 points again is undoubtedly a huge ask for Alonso's squad.
The boost of no European football
Given where they finished, the Blues will not be playing in European competitions this season. This could be a boost for the team, as they will be able to focus on the Premier League and improve their points tally.
A similar situation
Chelsea FC's Premier League record in 2025-26 is almost identical to when they finished mid-table under interim manager Guus Hiddink a decade ago. With just one more goal scored and one more conceded, they finished with the same goal difference and just two points more than they did in 2015-16.
Better than they looked
While Chelsea would still need to improve considerably to win the title, they were better than their lowly 10th-place finish last season suggests. Based on their underlying expected goal numbers, Chelsea were the fourth-most dominant team in the Premier League (although they drop to fifth once penalties are excluded). The problem was that Chelsea struggled to take their chances. They scored eight fewer goals than they should have, given the number and quality of shots they took – just 58 from an xG of 66.3 – with only Crystal Palace and Wolves worse finishers than them last season.
The impact of a tactical switch
Chelsea's new manager, Xabi Alonso, could make a tactical switch to a back three, similar to the one that worked for his Bayer Leverkusen side in the Bundesliga. This could be a key factor in the team's success this season.
Can Chelsea repeat the feat?
While it's a huge ask for Chelsea to improve their points tally by 43 points again, the team has shown that they can repeat the feat of winning the title after finishing 10th just a year ago. With a new manager and a similar situation to 10 years ago, the Blues may be able to repeat the feat and win the title this season.
