A disappointing last season culminated in a 10th place league football with no continental football. Chelsea were well off the top of the table by December leading to the appointment of Guus Hiddink on interim basis to help steady the blue ship.Performances were improved but no silverware in the end.
However,a new ray of hope has risen at Stamford Bridge ahead of the new season following Antonio Conte's appointment as head coach.Pre-season training has began earlier than last season when fatigue played a huge part in ending any hopes of retaining the title we had won so convincingly the season before.
Conte has arrived Chelsea off the back of a seemingly successful Euro campaign where they were primed as under dogs.He masterminded the downfall of then reigning Champions Spain and was unfortunate to be denied a place in the last four by World Champions Germany.
Helping the team hit top gear and to play his idea of football has been top priority since he assumed club duties.Intense double training sessions has been a feature of his early days at the Bridge.
The loss to Rapid Wien was followed by an improved performance against Wolfsberger and a total dismantling of minnows Atus Ferlach capping off a successful Austrian tour.At this point,Chelsea can only get better.
Mounting a title challenge is now an aspiration Conte believes he can achieve once the season gets underway.
'We must come back after a bad season,after the 10th place.We need to come back very soon in the right position because Chelsea is a great team in England and in the World and it is right that we must come back to fight for the title'. I know it's not simple because there are many strong teams in England'.

'But I am confident because we are working and I see the players with a great identity. The players want to come back very soon to fight for the title.For me,this is the most important thing'.
'It's important we stay together and overcome this bad period for Chelsea and come back also to play the Champions League,because the Champions League is Chelsea's home'.
A complete squad will be available to Conte ahead of our US tour (Eden Hazard,Thibaut Courtois and N'golo Kante will be back).Every blues faithful must now be optimistic of the new season.
'With Conte,the ride back to the top of the pile will be achieved.Come On You Blues!