CHELSEA

The season in one word: Chaotic.

Star of the show: Thomas Tuchel. He has not only been the manager, but the club statesman during a period of unprecedented uncertainty.

Biggest letdown: Romelu Lukaku. He was supposed to be the final piece of the jigsaw in Chelsea’s title challenge. Instead, he spent much of the season on the sidelines.

Most improved player: Mateo Kovacic. The quality was always there but this was the season when he became a dominant figure.

Game to remember: Real

Madrid 2 Chelsea 3 (April 12, 2022). A wild night in Madrid ended their reign as European champions but provided the highlight of their campaign. It was a game that will live long in the memory.

Game to forget: Wolves 0 Chelsea 0 (December 19, 2021). There were plenty of them, but this one stands out. Chelsea wanted this game postponed but the Premier League refused and what followed was a tedious grind.

Rising star: Trevoh Chalobah (below). The defender has played beyond his years at times, and with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen walking away this summer, he will be needed a lot more next season.

Manager verdict: It is hard to judge Tuchel purely on what has happened on the pitch. Injuries played a big part in their title challenge faltering so fast, but the suspicion is he needs to find another dimension to their play if they are to rival Manchester City and Liverpool.

Fans’ mood: Hopeful. Supporters have been put through it this season. But with Todd Boehly taking over at the Bridge, they can look forward to the future.

Grade: B