No, because whatever they like to call the Champions League it's still basically a knockout cup completion. I think we should have established ourselves as diners at the top table though.
From 2003 up to 2009, it did look as if we had achieved that. In six seasons we had been in four semi-finals and finished as runners up once in the CL. In the same six seasons, we had also won two PL titles and finished as runners-up three times.
As you say "domination" of the CL is virtually impossible, but we had the nucleus of a great team in that period and failed to build on it. It's ironic really that our only CL win came after a very poor PL season, with an ageing team including several of the players from that period.

Yes but what club doesn't. Of course you could also question what would of happened had Jose stayed the first time around.

Our rise in the football world as coincided with massive changes in The Premiership which has meant it was harder to dominate as it was in the past that's not to ignore the mistakes we have made I not sure any team can shot themselves in the foot like we can but at the same time I would rather be where we are at the moment then I would be where teams like Arsenal are,

We can make the changes needed to be a title contender again and while it will take an awful lot of hard work a certain amount of "good" luck and not to make as mistakes as we have in the past while I just don't see someone like Arsenal doing that or being able to. I think Pepe has just as much work as Conte does for next season, He might have different things he needs to do but they are just as difficult and just as important as what we need to do.

I need a rant, apologies.

Just sick of this team's general attitude this season. I had given up on the title a very long time ago. I had given up on top four a long time ago. I had no illusions about this season but after our Manager was sacked, which was supposed to be the problem.... I assumed I was going to see some effort and fight til the end of the season.

JM can only take so much of the blame, he is by no means blameless, but these players seem quite happy to limp along to the end of the season.

No pride at all, not bothered about the fans paying their money. Some fans may not be that bothered about playing the EL, but I want the players to want to finish as high up as possible. What sort of Chelsea team would just roll over Spurs and Liverpool in the past? Well, on what I've seen so far, this Chelsea team will be doing that before the end of the season.

Guus' comment that they are probably saving their energy for the Euros, and he wasn't even annoyed by that, is just disgusting. Whatever JM's faults are, there is no way he wouldn't want us to finish this season fighting til the last game after such a dreadful season.

I not sure why you expected to see some fight and pride when there has been little or no sign of either all season. Its nonsense at this level to expect that to change just because of a manager leaving that's just not going to happen no matter how much the media try to make out that at this level it can make a diffence

The players at this level (yes they have not shown much of it this season but we know they can perform at the highest level) do have a tendency to perform dependent the rewards on offer. While yes of course the fans want the club to finish as high up as possible realistically there is no difference between finishing 12th or 5th etc, the level of failure is no different. Its my main issue with some of our finishes in the top 4 in the past (and Arsenals performances for the last few years), There is no point in finishing 3rd if you are 12 points behind 1st place. If we have not finished 3/4 (maybe 5/6) points behind the winners then we have failed be it 12 points or 25.

These are paid employees who mainly will only be at the club 3 or maybe 4 years at most expecting "pride" or anything like that I think is asking too much when we are so far from the 1st place. While they might not be showing their abilities this season its either 1st (or close 2nd or 3rd) or nothing. They are not "fans" they are there to win major trophies if they cannot do that then they switch off while I might not like it I can sort of understand it. Its the downside of a winning mentality if you like, If I not going to win then what is the point of trying?

I think players such as JT, Lamps, Drogs etc would disagree.

If you're not going to win, what is the point of trying? Really?

Only one of those players are currently at the club and he is going at the end of season. I can see our top players time at Chelsea being no more then three seasons going forward (and expect that for other big clubs as well)

Lets see if how many of the current players will be there in two seasons never mind three. I expect for TC to have spend just as of his Chelsea Career on loan at Atletico Madrid then actually playing at Chelsea (or not really much of a major difference)

Yes, Its a competition, If you cannot win what is the point of taking part?

Our objective is to finish 1st now of course we cannot always win but we should always be at least in with a chance until at most 2/3 games left. Anything else no matter what is utter failure. Wenger has continued to fail at Arsenal because the board have accepted the finishing high up the table excuse.

Graham Souness, said the players were nothing short of a disgrace.
He had particular harsh words for Mikel & Fabregas, saying they offered zero protection to the back four.
The tv cameras being high up really do show up how desperately slow Mikel is. He is only remotely effective when the ball is within a stride or two from him. He cannot run or move anywhere near fast enough for this level. City could have run a fleet of buses through the gaping holes in our midfield.

I am not being sarcastic here, but Kante is better and covers more ground than Fabregas and Mikel put together. Kante must be worth at least £50 million now. The guy is just the most incredible athlete and can play as well.

Mikel is one of the most average players to have been a regular for seasons on end for a top 4 team. Adds nothing. And has had a career where he has barely had to break sweat. (and no, I won't be convinced otherwise by people telling me he must be good if manager after manager pick him)!

Why does he need to break a sweat? Is that a sign of something?

What a load of tosh!
Genuine top players give their best no matter what!

When we were then first CL champs to go out in the group stages, it would have been easy for our players to have been embarrassed and felt sorry for themselves and not bother about the EL, especially when we were struggling to be in the top four and faced a fixture pile up if went further in the EL. However, being the great pros that they were, they rolled their sleeves up and gave it everything they had and ended up being rewarded with the trophy.

I remember watching Tiger Woods in his heyday.
With tens of millions in the bank, 50 plus regular titles to his name and over a dozen major titles as well, he would still give 100% going down the last 9 of a regular tour event even when he had zero chance of winning.
That's what top quality sports people do. It's in their blood to give it everything they've got.

It's a well known phrase. If you don't understand it, then, not to worry.

You have no defence for him, so come up with something like that.

Great stuff from a Chelsea fan... If we're not going to win, then what's the point of trying! That's how great clubs and managers stay at the top!

My point is that those players I mentioned loved playing for the club. Yes, we may never get anyone that feels like this again, which saddens me. But we all know what a massive Chelsea fan JT is and he wants to stay, if not playing, to come back as staff. Ash was in tears last day at the club, Lamps never wanted to leave, I follow him on instagram, that man loves the Club.

And yes, because we have only one of those players left at the club corrolates with exactly what is lacking in this team.

Whilst I appreciate they are only human, and will have slightly lost their competitive edge as there is nothing to play for, I cannot fathom how they are not bothered about losing the last few matches. You say it's acceptable and understandable. We will have to agree to disagree on that.

Hardly the way to impress the new coach is it.

Not any Chelsea fan I know, which is why I was so taken aback by the comment.

The great Platini never broke sweat for France. That was accepted because he had great grafters round him doing the running which allowed Platini to do what he was great at. It was a perfect combination and that French midfield was one the greatest to ever grace the international stage.
Mikel offers nothing with the ball and does next to nothing without, unless, as i said, it's within a step or two of him. Mikel is a worker who doesn't work.

OK forget about him literally sweating but he does nothing!

This is how I feel. I cannot accept that if there is nothing to win, I wouldn't want to carry on trying to win if I was at that level. Personal pride, if nothing else. Let alone for the fans turning up week in week out to watch that drivel for 9 months.

But those days of having players like that are long gone and I don't think will return to the very top clubs sadly

This season has been a write off from before it even started if we look back at it from today's eyes. They switched off a long time ago and I just don't see why we can expect them to switch it back on at this stage. Maybe acceptable and understandable is the wrong term but more not seeing a reason of why its going to change, If we was still in with a shout of winning a trophy or getting Champions League I would question why but at this point I really cannot see why it would just to finish a few places further up the league

Don't need to defend him.

His career and medals do that more then what anyone can say

Is he this fantastic player? Nope

But he has been a decent player for Chelsea and done the job asked of him at a very decent level.

I agree there. You would think that there's enough personal motivation for each individual player to give 100% in every game. It's a short career when you think about it, 15 years if they're lucky, and maybe half that number at the top of their game.
Some of our players may live to regret throwing away biggest part of a season with a shrug of the shoulders. Money isn't everything, and they'll never get the chance to go back and do it all again.

But if they did find the "personal motivation" at the start of the season to defend a title why are they suddenly going to find it just to come 5th instead of 10th? Maybe they should have but at not a single point at this season has that even looked like happening. I really don't expect anything from any of our games remaining apart from getting maybe a lucky or dodgy draw, I not even sure they can get enough toghter to beat Bournemouth at the moment.

I don't think players like Hazzard will even think about this season for a second going forward.

Yes, I've been a frequent critic of Mikel. But he is the player you want if the situation requires shutting up shop and seeing out the rest of a game. His close control and ability to shield the ball is as good as anyone's. You rarely see him lose the ball even when surrounded by two or three players. He was also great in those "backs to the wall" games when we won the Champions League.
The downside is a complete lack of pace, he's one of the slowest players I've seen in the modern game and that's a liability. He certainly wouldn't be a starter for me, but he's a useful squad member for the reasons I've given above.

The youth team have started well in the Uefa Youth League final v PSG. 1-0 up after 10 minutes and our keeper's saved a penalty.