This is a syndication of the article originally published for the BBC, here.
Chelsea went into Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace on the back of a busy and successful summer which had built a rising tide of expectation around a team that finally looked to be coming together.
Enzo Maresca’s side had played exceptionally well at times in the Club World Cup and ended up lifting the trophy. From front to back, everything was starting to click on the pitch, and so much quality had been added both to the first team and the bench. Fears about fatigue after that tournament had even been dispelled a little by bright and busy performances in the two friendly games last weekend.
One would have to look back to Thomas Tuchel’s first pre-season at the club for the last time Chelsea were being taken this seriously as a contender on the eve of a new campaign.
Flat Chelsea fail to live up to pre-match expectations
In the end the game was a let down, with both sides struggling to put together coherent attacking moves. One would have been forgiven for thinking that Chelsea had had three months off rather than three weeks given their lack of chemistry beyond the halfway line.
The ebullient mood at Stamford Bridge before kick off gradually deflated, with pre-match trophy boasting and flag-waving enthusiasm melting in the August sunshine. The appearance of Estevao Willian gave a spike to the energy levels in the second half, but even the thrilling Brazilian could only manage a couple of moments that got fans on their feet.
Nobody is panicking after just one game against a very good team, but the disappointment hanging in the air now is a reminder that raised expectations will bring their own issues to a team that’s still very young and still trying to establish itself back at the top table of European football.
Will Faulks @willfaulks