Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth: The one that wasn't on Boxing Day

Mason Mount making it look easy

As kick-off edged closer on Tuesday afternoon I was filled with a mixture of both excitement and sheer dread. With the World Cup breaking up the season it had been weeks seeing Chelsea in action. With the form they were in and injuries that had accumulated - the shocking backhanded decision by FIFA to hold this farce was probably for the best. It gave Graham Potter the opportunity to properly work with his inherited players - at least the ones who didn't jet off to Qatar.

Chelsea told to rest Mason Mount following Euro 2020 final

Mason Mount celebrates at Euro 2020

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has told club managers to be empathetic towards their players who featured in Euro 2020, especially those that played through the latter stages of the tournament. 

The new Premier League season kicks off on the 13th of August, just five weeks after Italy triumphed over England in the final of the European Championships. 

Chelsea 3-0 West Ham: The one before Christmas

Thiago Silva and Olivier Giroud getting better with age 

Despite not quite hitting the halfway point in the season for matches played, Christmas is always a good marker for assessing the season so far. While Chelsea are currently sat in fifth following the win over London rivals West Ham, they're just 2 points off of second. In a very strange season, that saw the influx of eight new players to bed in without any pre-season at all - it's a decent position.

Chelsea 4-0 Crystal Palace: The one Tammy Abraham was not allowed to take a penalty

October 3rd. This was the weekend marked for fans to return to football grounds up and down the country. While it would have been strange with the social distancing protocols in place, it still would have been brilliant to see familiar faces in the stands once again. Hopefully we won't have to wait much longer because, as ever, football without fans is nothing.

Frank Lampard rang in the changes against high flying Eagles on Saturday lunch time. Mason Mount was taken out of the spotlight, no doubt to the excitement of social media trolls. Callum Hudson-Odoi handed a chance to impress while heavily linked to a Bayern move once again. And Christian Pulisic finally returned to the squad. But would just make a cameo on the day. Captain America will be eased back in to not damage those precious ligaments.

Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea: The one Eric Dier needed a poo

Never has the feeling of peaked too soon felt more apt than it did on Tuesday night. Everything seemed to fall right. Tottenham were to have an important Europa League clash just two days after this and Jose Mourinho openly admitted it was his priority. While you can write off his words as 'mind games' when the lineups dropped - he backed himself. Spurs started without a recognised striker.

Inside twenty minutes Timo Werner solidified is growing cult status amongst the Chelsea faithful to open the scoring in a well-worked goal. With the way he's performed since arriving at Stamford Bridge it feels suprising that this was his first goal for the club. If only the final whistle could have just been blown then. Spoiler... it wasn't.

Chelsea 3-0 Watford: The one where an American starred on the Fourth of July

Olivier Giroud: Like a fine wine

After Wednesday's shocking performance against West Ham, Chelsea managed to bounce back with aplomb against another relegation battler Watford.

Frank Lampard dropped Marcos Alonso, Antonio Rudiger and Tammy Abraham for the part they played in letting Man United close the gap on fourth to just two points. While Rudiger definitely made two prolific mistakes in that match, he remains more consistent overall than his partner Andreas Christensen. I'm not saying the Dane has blackmail material over the boss. But I'm not not saying it.

Chelsea 4-0 Everton: The one that Carlo Ancelotti returned

King Carlo + Super Frank

Back in 2016 Antonio Conte's side had started to pick up momentum in what ultimately would be a title-winning campaign. But it was the total domination of an Everton side in November of that season that had the rest of the league talking even leaving manager Ronald Koeman with nothing but praise after their demolition.

Not that Chelsea are in the midst of a title-run... but this match had the same buzz around Stamford Bridge. That this Chelsea side are on the cusp of something and things are finally falling into place for Frank Lampard.

Chelsea 0-3 Bayern Munich: The one Chelsea faced a Canadian

Olivier Giroud is a whole mood

 Before the season began no one really knew what to expect from this Chelsea side and Frank Lampard. Which means for many hopes had to be managed in terms of what they could reasonably achieve this season. Top six finish? Good cup run? Champions League knockout stages?

They made it a little too exciting to get this far, but this young side against the odds made the Champions League last-16. Only to promptly draw Bayern Munich. And yes, of course, there was that other time they played Bayern...

Chelsea 0-2 Man United: The one where VAR lost the plot

VAR: Not a red...

Manchester United managed their first league double over Chelsea since 1988. And the first time they've managed it without conceding since 1965. None of those formidable Sir Alex Ferguson sides managed it. But here we are.

It was another frustrating night out at Stamford Bridge. And not the ideal preparation for a now very much in-form Bayern Munich side. Olivier Giroud once again overlooked for a starting place while Kepa still bizarrely remains on the sidelines.

Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 Chelsea: The one that Christian Pulisic made his debut

*INSERT OBVIOUS JOKE HERE*

Three pre-season games in and Frank Lampard has suffered his first defeat as Chelsea boss. And as much as anyone says that pre-season results don’t matter, it could not have felt good. But it isn’t all doom and gloom in July… those new mod kits got their first run out and looked good doing it. They deserved better — or at least a goal.

This was the first match that saw any players see more than 45 minutes of action. In fact two players managed to endure the insane humidity for the full 90 - and not to worry, David Luiz seemed to have a good frizz control product in his hair to keep looking out of sorts. Ironically the other player that saw out the entire match was not even meant to start. Willy Caballero heroically stepped in for Kepa who was struck down with some bug but will likely see his first minutes of the summer against Barcelona on Tuesday. No pressure.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0-4 Chelsea: The one that was a diamond in the rough

Why we really watched Wimbledon

Chelsea continued their pre-season adventures in Ireland on Saturday afternoon as they faced Europa League hopeful St Patrick’s Athletic. A number of young debutants who had lined up against Bohemians were shipped back to London to link up with the development squad and prepped for impending loan deals immediately following the draw. Which led to a number of more familiar faces joining the pre-season fray at Richmond Park.