True Blues — Chelsea FC
ΕΛ

Season: 2021–22

Premier League

🏅🌐
  • UEFA Super Cup
  • FIFA Club World Cup

League

Chelsea added two new chapters to the European triumph in Porto: the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast and, for the first time, the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Division
Premier League (Tier 1)
Manager
Thomas Tuchel
Top scorer (league)
Mason Mount (11)
Top scorer (all comps)
Romelu Lukaku (15)
Avg. league attendance
37,812

Cups & Europe

FA Cup
Runners-up
League Cup
Runners-up
Europe
European Cup / Champions League: Quarter-finals
Other
UEFA Super Cup: Winners; FIFA Club World Cup: Winners

Notes

Chelsea added two new chapters to the European triumph in Porto: the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast and, for the first time, the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Thomas Tuchel led the team throughout 2021–22, a season of 63 competitive matches, two trophies and two agonising domestic final defeats. Lukaku returned to lead the attack, while Chalobah established himself in the first team. There was football of real authority in the autumn, but injuries, illness and a difficult winter took Chelsea out of the title race. By spring, uncertainty off the pitch had become part of daily life too. The first trophy came on 11 August 2021 at Windsor Park in Belfast. Ziyech put Chelsea ahead against Villarreal, Gerard Moreno equalised and the UEFA Super Cup remained 1–1 after extra time. Tuchel brought Kepa on for Mendy just before the shoot-out. Havertz’s first penalty was saved, but Kepa denied Mandi and then Albiol, after Rüdiger had converted Chelsea’s seventh kick. The 6–5 shoot-out win brought the club’s second Super Cup, its first since 1998. It was an early reminder that this team could find a way through a final’s tightest margins. Chelsea finished third in the Premier League with 74 points: 21 wins, 11 draws and six defeats, goals 76–33 and a +43 difference. At home the record was 9–7–3, goals 37–22; away it was 12–4–3, goals 39–11. Mount led the league scoring with 11. Lukaku finished top overall with 15, ahead of Havertz on 14, Mount on 13 and Werner on 11. A 2–0 win at Arsenal on Lukaku’s second debut, a 3–0 victory at Tottenham and Mount’s hat-trick in the 7–0 home win over Norwich captured the early momentum. The title challenge faded through the winter, with injuries to Chilwell and James depriving the team of important attacking width. Spring brought a 6–0 win at Southampton but also painful home defeats by Brentford and Arsenal. Barkley’s late winner against Watford on 22 May closed the league season with a 2–1 victory and another Champions League place secured. February brought the world title. The tournament was officially the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021, but Chelsea played their matches on 9 and 12 February 2022. Lukaku scored the only goal against Al Hilal in the semi-final, then headed Chelsea in front against Palmeiras in the final at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. Veiga equalised from the penalty spot and the game went to extra time. With a shoot-out approaching, Havertz converted a penalty in the 117th minute to make it 2–1. The scorer of the winner in Porto had delivered on another global stage. Chelsea were world champions for the first time. The domestic finals brought a cruel contrast. Chelsea reached the League Cup final after shoot-out wins over Aston Villa and Southampton, a 2–0 victory at Brentford and a 3–0 aggregate semi-final win over Tottenham: 2–0 at home on 5 January and 1–0 away on 12 January. Liverpool awaited at Wembley on 27 February. A fiercely contested final finished 0–0 after extra time, with Mendy making important saves before Kepa came on for the shoot-out. Every outfield player converted, as did Liverpool goalkeeper Kelleher. Kepa’s kick went over, leaving Chelsea beaten 11–10 on penalties. There had been no shortage of chances or commitment; there was simply no trophy to show for them. The FA Cup offered a second chance. Chesterfield were beaten 5–1, Plymouth 2–1 after extra time, Luton 3–2 and Middlesbrough 2–0. Against Plymouth, Alonso scored the winner and Kepa saved a late extra-time penalty to protect the lead. Loftus-Cheek and Mount then scored in the 2–0 Wembley semi-final win over Crystal Palace on 17 April. The final on 14 May brought Liverpool again, and another 0–0 after 120 minutes. Azpilicueta hit the post in the shoot-out, but Mendy’s save from Mané kept Chelsea alive. Alisson then saved Mount’s sudden-death penalty and Tsimikas converted the winner. The 6–5 shoot-out defeat meant a third successive FA Cup final loss. Two long afternoons at Wembley had ended without a goal separating the sides in open play, yet both cups had slipped away. The Champions League defence ended in the quarter-finals, but not without a memorable fight. Chelsea finished second in Group H with 13 points, behind Juventus despite beating them 4–0 at the Bridge. Lille were defeated 2–0 at home and 2–1 away in the last 16, 4–1 on aggregate. Real Madrid then won 3–1 at Stamford Bridge on 6 April, Benzema scoring a hat-trick. Six days later Chelsea produced a superb response at the Bernabéu. Mount, Rüdiger and Werner put the Blues 3–0 ahead on the night, turning the tie around before Rodrygo forced extra time. Benzema struck again there. Chelsea won the match 3–2 after extra time but went out 5–4 on aggregate, their reign ending with pride as well as disappointment. Away from the football, sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich on 10 March 2022 required Chelsea to operate under a special government licence, restricting ticket sales and other business. The final five home league fixtures were subject to attendance restrictions, admitting home season-ticket holders and visiting supporters. Across all 19 home league matches, the average crowd was 37,812; that season-wide figure includes those restricted gates. The club’s sale was completed on 30 May. It was a turbulent end to a demanding campaign, but Belfast and Abu Dhabi had still brought silverware — and the players’ effort in Madrid and both domestic finals deserved more than a bare list of results could convey.

Kits

Home
Away
Third

Club World Cup winners.

Illustration from hex colours (not official kit photography).

On this day (related years)

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History

Eras, trophies, and great matches in the History section.

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Sources

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