Here is a review of Chelsea’s 2015/16 season. Chelsea began as pre-season favorites to retain their title, but instead it saw Jose Mourinho fired as Chelsea became a middle of the table club, finishing 37 points worse off than they were in 2014.15.
Stats:
- Finishing position: 9th (-9)
- Total points: 50 (-37)
- FA Cup: Quarter-finals
- Capital One Cup: Fourth round
- Top scorer: Diego Costa (12)
- WhoScored Top Rating: Willian (7.20)
Season Review
Chelsea must wish this season could be air-brushed from history. Less than three months after they were parading the Premier League trophy around Stamford Bridge in May, the Blues kicked off a disastrous title defense with a shambolic 2-2 draw at home to Swansea.
The match set the tone for what was to follow, as the toxic fallout from Jose Mourinho’s furious bust-up with team doctor Eva Carneiro left a dark cloud over their season. On the pitch, results were dreadful, with Chelsea only winning three of their first 12 Premier League fixtures.
Their form never picked up under the increasingly combustible Mourinho and by the time he was sacked after a 2-1 defeat to Leicester in December, Chelsea were only one point above the relegation zone in 16th place.
Chelsea confirmed the return of Guus Hiddink as interim boss until the end of the season. The Blues went unbeaten in the Dutchman’s first 15 Premier League games in charge, but the run included eight draws and their hopes of a late push for the European places were ended by back-to-back defeats to Swansea and Manchester City in April.
Chelsea still managed to have the final say in the title race as a stormy 2-2 draw with Tottenham ended Spurs’ hopes of catching Leicester, but it was scant consolation for a side who began the season as favourites for another title.
Stats of the season
- Chelsea lost as many times in the opening five games of the Premier League season (three) as in the whole of 2014/15.
- Last year’s PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard went 356 days (26 appearances) without scoring in the Premier League before his double against Bournemouth in April.
- Only Aston Villa and Bournemouth conceded more home goals than Chelsea (30) in the Premier League in 2015/16.
