Last season: Sixth

Impossible to predict what will happen in the next 20 minutes at Chelsea, let alone what might have happened by the time May rolls around.

Another season and another new manager. This time it is Enzo Maresca, lured from Leicester City to succeed Mauricio Pochettino, who pieced together the small community that made up his Chelsea squad to take them into Europe, although there was disappointment in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

Maresca has a squad bulging with talent. He also has a squad that is bulging.

Chelsea’s fans are disappointed to see Conor Gallagher potentially being sold but the revolving door keeps spinning and will continue to do so until the transfer window closes. Pedro Neto is an exciting arrival from Wolves, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another good signing, but where is the structure and what is the plan?

Once again, it seems like the scattergun is out at Stamford Bridge.

There is real talent in this squad, with Cole Palmer a brilliant signing who made a huge impact for England at Euro 2024, scoring in the final against Spain, so if Maresca can get it right, this might be an unflattering prediction.

Maresca, however, has much to prove. Is he actually an upgrade on Pochettino or simply someone will adhere more to the whims of Todd Boehly and the Chelsea hierarchy?

Chelsea fan writer Will Faulks on BBC Sport’s Chelsea page

“Chelsea will finish in seventh place, far off the top teams once again. We hope this season sees fans able to build connections with this group of players and with the club again, before they lose touch entirely.”