Chelsea star has refused to sign a new contract at the club in a major blow to after the appointment of Enzo Maresca as Chelsea new manager

Chelsea’s first game will be at home against defending champions Manchester City. The Blues will formally begin life under newly hired head coach Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge with one of football’s most daunting challenges: defeating Manchester City.

Maresca will undoubtedly encounter some really difficult obstacles during the season. And, with Chelsea potentially competing in European football again next season, fixture congestion might play a significant role in the Italian’s maiden season at the club.

To qualify for the Europa Conference League group stage, Chelsea must first win a two-legged play-off. The tie has not yet been drawn, but the first leg is set to take place on August 22 with the return game a week later on August 29.

If Chelsea makes it through the play-offs, they might be in for a crazy December. The last month of the year is notorious in English football for presenting obstacles, but if the Blues are to go to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, they might play up to nine games in December.

As things stand, and this is all subject to change, Chelsea face Brentford at home in the Premier League on December 14, followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final on December 18 and a Conference League encounter on December 19. These dates have yet to be confirmed, but fitting all of the fixtures in will require some significant juggling.

Chelsea’s December may be like this:

07/12/24: Tottenham away (Premier League)

12/12/24: Conference League match.

14/12/24: Brentford at home (Premier League)

18/12/24: Carabao Cup quarter-final

19/12/24: Conference League match.

21/12/24: Everton away (Premier League)

26/12/24: Fulham at home (Premier League)

29/12/24: Ipswich Town away (Premier League)