Ultimately, it’s been one of Chelsea’s worst Premier League seasons in the past two decades. A tenth-placed finish. No Europe, no silverware, but Joe Cole picked a Chelsea player in his Team of the Season.
Going into the weekend, Chelsea had a solid chance of qualifying for the Europa League if they could beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. A point will have seen them finish in eighth position this season.
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That would have promised Conference League football. Yet, defeat on Wearside left Chelsea without a place in Europe. It summed up what has been a woeful season for those of a Chelsea persuasion.
But it is not all gloom. There have been positives with Joao Pedro sparkling throughout, Enzo Fernandez put all the noise to one side and impressed. Joe Cole picked another in his Team of the Season, though.
Joe Cole surprisingly picks Chelsea star in his Team of the Season
With the Premier League season over, Xabi Alonso will be forced to pick up the pieces and attempt to invigorate a Chelsea side that have struggled over the past year. At least, he will have Moises Caicedo.
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While Barcelona continue to lurk over a deal for Joao Pedro and Fernandez pushes for moves to the likes of Arsenal, Man City and Real Madrid, Caicedo looks set to remain at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable.
After signing a new deal in West London, Caicedo has made his intentions clear. He is to remain in West London and that’s good news for fans and for Cole, who picked him in his TNT Team of the Season.
He chose Arsenal’s David Raya, Gabriel and Declan Rice, City’s Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, Bernardo Silva, Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland. He also picked Nordi Mukiele, Bruno Fernandes and Caicedo.
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Onlooking teams will see that Chelsea’s inability to qualify for the Champions League, or Europe of any matter, is likely to result in a big sale. That would replace the cash received for going into Europe.
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Joe Cole has previously said he expects one big sale at Stamford Bridge this summer, to raise funds for what is likely to be an influx of players under the new manager Xabi Alonso. But Caicedo is staying.
As per Chelsea’s site, he said: “There is still a lot more to achieve, and I’m very hungry to keep improving every day. I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and give everything for this club and for the fans.
“We have enjoyed some great times together already and my dream is to become a Chelsea legend, and I will work as hard as possible to make that happen,” Caicedo said. For now, Cole gets his Caicedo wish.
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