{"id":2176,"date":"2016-07-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-18T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webinology.website\/nation2021\/epl-previews-can-chelsea-bounce-back-in-2016-2017\/"},"modified":"2021-11-03T12:58:43","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T16:58:43","slug":"epl-previews-can-chelsea-bounce-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coachup.com\/nation\/articles\/epl-previews-can-chelsea-bounce-back","title":{"rendered":"EPL Previews: Can Chelsea bounce back in 2016-2017?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can Chelsea bounce back in 2016-2017?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to Copa America Centenario and the European Championships, we\u2019ve been pretty distracted from the fact that the English Premier League has been on hiatus since early May. This, of course, is a major problem, especially for all the wonderful fans used to waking up at 7AM to watch their beloved Chelsea or Manchester United sides take the pitch. While International competition has been outstanding, as usual, we can\u2019t help but miss that massive hole in our heart and pine for the return of the soccer league CoachUp loves the most.<\/p>\n

After Leicester City\u2019s 5000-1 odds to win the Premiership, capping off what is, in all likelihood, the most fantastic championship in major sports history, the perennial powerhouses have gone hard towards defeating the slew of underdogs currently rising up the table. With the addition of three world class managers, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, and Pep Guardiola, this season could shape up to be even crazier than the last.<\/p>\n

In order to prepare the loyal and initiate the newcomers, CoachUp will have you all ready for the August 13th showdown between the current title-holders Leicester City and newly-promoted Hull City. We\u2019re counting down by previewing the league\u2019s top ten clubs from 2015-2016, detailing the players to watch, and their European (or lack thereof) adventures. So, without further ado, here\u2019s number ten and, strangely, Chelsea FC.<\/p>\n

CHELSEA
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The Skinny
<\/strong>If you\u2019re reading this, there\u2019s a 99% likelihood that you\u2019re not alarmed by seeing Chelsea so, so low in last year\u2019s table. But for those late to the game or just embracing the warm glow of the EPL, here\u2019s the lowdown. Following their first-place finish in 2014-2015, the title favorites came out stumbling, losing the Community Shield — an intense pre-season friendly played between the league winners and the FA cup champions — to Arsenal, then drew with Swansea, and lost to Manchester City and Crystal Palace to wrap up a disappointing August. Taking just 4 points in 4 games is not ideal, particularly for a championship-hopeful side, but, couldn\u2019t it just be some early cobwebs? Well, it didn\u2019t get much better: Chelsea\u2019s stars, John Terry, Diego Costa, and Eden Hazard, just often didn\u2019t seem up to the task or were just one step too slow against younger, faster, and hungrier sides.<\/p>\n

As the club stumbled, so did owner Roman Abramovich, the man that ultimately sacked the aforementioned Mourinho after a defeat at the hands of Leicester City in mid-December. While Guus Hiddink, the interim manager, did his best to right the ship, and did so for the most part, Chelsea only ever reached the tenth slot, well behind any remaining Europa League berths. Last season, Chelsea finished with 12 wins, 14 draws, 12 loses, and an absurd 31 points behind Leicester City. Their 10th place finish gave Chelsea the worst-ever title defense in modern Premier League history, so they’ll be looking to move on from it as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

The Upbeat
<\/strong>However, with all disappointment comes unbridled optimism as a new campaign approaches. Under Antonio Conte, the Blues have a great chance of rebounding in 2015-2016 after additions like N\u2019Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi to an already strong core. At worst, Thibaut Courtois is still one of the world\u2019s best keepers and he\u2019ll be protected by the always underrated Cesar Azpilicueta, the solid Branislav Ivanovic, and ever-reliable Gary Cahill. With improved summers from Cesc Fabregas and Hazard, with Spain and Belgium at Euro Cup, respectively, all that\u2019s left is to make sure that Costa, the team\u2019s best striker, by far, still wants to play at Stamford Bridge. If he stays, then Chelsea will be well in the running for the Premier League\u2019s Most Improved in the forthcoming campaign.<\/p>\n

Preferred Starting XI
<\/strong>With Conte taking the reins, there will be a new look for Chelsea as the Italian manager is likely to utilize a 4-4-2 Starting XI, given his glut of midfield talent. In this, we might be able to reasonably expect something like this against West Ham United on August 15th:<\/p>\n