Legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech, an icon of Chelsea, has expressed his belief that his former club won’t be able to contend for the Premier League title for at least the next two years.
Since their last Premier League triumph in 2017 under Antonio Conte, Chelsea has been unable to secure the title, with Manchester City and Liverpool being the subsequent champions.
Cech, having played a crucial role in Chelsea’s success, predicts that it will take an additional two years before they can clinch the championship.
After Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club in the summer of 2022 to co-owner Todd Boehly, there were ambitions to elevate Chelsea back to the top of the league.
Boehly invested over a billion pounds in transfers alone, yet the team’s performance this season still places them in 10th position under Mauricio Pochettino.
Cech, who served as the club’s technical and performance adviser before departing just before the arrival of the American chairman, believes that Chelsea will eventually overcome their current challenges, but he acknowledges that it will take time, suggesting improvement might not be evident until the 2025-26 season.
The outcome of the current season and the performance of Pochettino’s players in the remaining matches will play a crucial role.
A strong finish this season could provide momentum for the next, where a realistic top-four push could be made by the young and relatively inexperienced team.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Cech remarked, “If you are talking about winning a league title, this season is not going the way they desire it to.”
He suggests that a solid and strong conclusion to the season, coupled with preparation for the following season, might set the stage for Chelsea to climb the table and vie for a top-four position.
Cech emphasized that the following season, 2025-26, is the first year when Chelsea could realistically challenge for the title.
While acknowledging the current difficulties, he remains optimistic about the club’s future prospects, provided they finish the season well and prepare adequately for the upcoming campaign.
