Burnley sign French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea
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Chelsea fixtures: Tough London derbies dominate opening run
Following a strong fourth-place finish, lifting the UEFA Conference League and a historic FIFA Club World Cup triumph, expectations around the Blues have risen - and so has the pressure to deliver - but perhaps, for once, with a sense that the pieces are finally falling into place.
Chelsea fixtures 2025:
17 August: Chelsea v Crystal Palace
22 August: West Ham v Chelsea
30 August: Chelsea v Fulham
13 September: Brentford v Chelsea
20 September: Man Utd v Chelsea
27 September: Chelsea v Brighton
Chelsea's season starts with a tough series of London derbies that will quickly test them. First, they host FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge - always a challenging game, as Palace are organized and dangerous on the counter. Then comes a short trip to West Ham, where the atmosphere is intense and wins are never easy.
Next, Fulham visit the Bridge. This rivalry has grown stronger recently, and Fulham are improving each year. After that, Chelsea face Brentford away - a hard-working team that often troubles bigger clubs, especially at home.
After these local battles, Chelsea head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in late September. It's their first big test of the season and could show how far they've come under their new manager.
The West London outfit have spent over 240 million pounds in transfers ahead of the new season. Among eight signings - Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Jorell Hato are the standout acquisitions.
Maresca treated Chelsea's Club World Cup run in July like a pre-season, helping the team learn his tactics.
“I wanted it to feel like a training camp with purpose - to build rhythm and understanding before the season,” he said.
With Champions League football back and a clear style of play, Chelsea are still a work in progress - but they can be viewed as serious contenders - and rightly so.
Chelsea standings - Historic log positions
2020/21 - 4th
2021/22 - 3rd
2022/23 - 12th
2023/24 - 6th
2024/25 - 4th
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