Calum McFarlane’s side suffered an embarrassing defeat to a spirited Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, bringing to a fitting close to Chelsea’s miserable Premier League campaign on Sunday afternoon. The loss ended the Blues’ hopes of finishing in the top 10, and they missed out on any form of European football next season. Meanwhile, the Black Cats booked a fairytale place in the Europa League in their first season back in the top flight.
Trai Hume’s well-controlled volley nestled into the bottom corner past Robert Sanchez in the 25th minute for the hosts to take the lead. Sunderland continued from where they left off in the first half and extended their lead five minutes after the restart when Brian Brobbey’s shot was mis-hit but deflected into the Chelsea net by an unlucky Malo Gusto. Soon after, Cole Palmer offered a fleeting ray of hope with a speculative low drive that beat Robin Roefs to end a 14-game goal drought that dated all the way back to early March.
Wesley Fofana’s reckless second yellow card just after the hour mark effectively killed any hopes of a Chelsea comeback. The visitors were left to see out stoppage time with ten men as Le Bris’ history-making side cruised over the line in delirious scenes in Wearside.
What Xabi Alonso Inherits as He Prepares to Take Charge at Stamford Bridge
Now all eyes at Stamford Bridge shift to the imminent arrival of Xabi Alonso as Chelsea’s new permanent manager, confirmed just a week before this disappointing finale. The Spaniard has signed a four-year contract and will officially take up the position on July 1, with the appointment marking a new beginning after another shambolic campaign in west London.
The 44-year-old former Bayer Leverkusen tactician had been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in January, just half a season into his Bernabeu tenure. But it was his record in Germany, where he masterminded Leverkusen to the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title, that was the main reason Chelsea’s hierarchy zeroed in on him. He was reportedly preferred to other candidates, including Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva.
Alonso takes on a squad full of talent but lacking in the consistency required at the top end of the Premier League. With Cole Palmer finishing the season in better shape and the busy summer transfer window opening on June 15, the incoming boss will be expected to quickly rebuild the identity of Chelsea and end this run of mid-table mediocrity.