We’re just a few weeks away from the start of the Premier League season now, if you can believe it.
Chelsea have had a superb few montbs, and are now being put among the favourites to win the title next season.
Using sportsbook software integration you can see that the Blues’ odds have plunged through the course of the summer, in some places crashing form 20/1 to 5/1 to win the league next year, and there are a few reasons for that.
- Rising form
The Blues had a real wobble in the middle of last season, but the fact that the Club World Cup added an extra month to the campaign meant there was not only time to recover from the long spring slump, but also to then build back to above what we saw in the earlier parts of the season.
Morale could not be higher, and it looks like the project is really coming together on and off the field. There is finally a sense of forward momentum, and that’s being reflected in the odds.
- Improved squad
Part of that improved form has come from the addition of good players – Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have made an instant impact and the bookies seem to be buying into the idea that the goals they add will make a major difference for this team next season.
Andrey Santos and Dario Essugo have added depth in midfield, and there looks to be more additions to come soon. Estevao Willian is a true wildcard out wide, and could be a difference maker as the season goes on. Xavi Simons and Jorrel Hato are expected to join before too long as well.
- Age and experience
As well as new players coming in, there is a continual improvement of players already at the club as they age, mature, gain experience and gain familiarity together,
The amount of turnover in the last few years has made that hard, but there’s a really solid core coming into their 2nd or 3rd season now and looking better and better.
Youngsters like Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong can also be expected to contribute more this season.
We can also expect Enzo Maresca to continue to improve as he learns more about managing at this level.
While there could be a slow start, there’s almost universal expectation that we take a big step forward next season. From front to back th