What is the lowest Chelsea have finished in the Premier League?
2022/23 has been a season of misery for Chelsea, but just how bad could the campaign end for the Blues?
It was always going to be a year of transition for the west London club in the wake of Roman Abramovich's departure, and the club seemingly committed to a long-term project by replacing the man who guided them to Champions League glory in 2021, Thomas Tuchel, with impressive Brighton manager Graham Potter.
New owner Todd Boehly, however, left Potter with a bloated, unbalanced squad. And while the Englishman shouldn't be exempt from criticism, he wasn't exactly given the best chance to succeed during his first year on the job. Their form under Potter turned so dire in 2023 that the club had no choice but to part ways.
They've now turned to a familiar face in Frank Lampard in a bid to re-establish some good feeling around the club heading into 2023/24 because this season could be historically poor. They currently reside 11th in the Premier League table, but could they record their lowest-ever finish in the competition?
Chelsea's lowest finishes in Premier League history
Chelsea were a mediocre top-flight outfit during the first half of the 90s, but only twice did they finish in the bottom half of the table. Between 1992/93 and 1994/95, 22 teams competed in the Premier League which meant the Blues' 11th-place finishes in 1992/92 and 1994/95 saw them squeak into the top half.
In 1993/94, however, they finished 14th which is their lowest Premier League finish to date. They notched 51 points from 42 games - an average of 1.214 points per game. Their PPG average wasn't quite as poor in 1995/96 (1.31) when they finished 11th, a figure that was matched 20 years later during the Blues' infamous 2015/16 season.
After Jose Mourinho guided Chelsea to the title in 2014/15 with an 87-point haul, the Blues then embarked on the joint-worst title defence in Premier League history as they finished with 50 points. Surprisingly, though, that was enough for a tenth-place finish.
Season | Games played | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1993/94 | 42 | 14th | 51 |
1994/95 | 42 | 11th | 54 |
1992/93 | 42 | 11th | 56 |
1995/96 | 38 | 11th | 50 |
2015/16 | 38 | 10th | 50 |
Could Chelsea endure their lowest finish in 2022/23?
As we noted, 14th is the lowest Chelsea have finished in the Premier League. The current gap between themselves and West Ham, who currently sit 14th, is nine points, but the Hammers have played a game fewer.
It's also worth noting that there were 22 teams competing in the league when the Blues finished 14th in 1993/94, so points-per-game is a fairer measuring stick of their woes. Their lowest in this regard is, as we mentioned, 1.214, accumulated in 93/94.
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Through 30 games this season, Chelsea's PPG is 1.3. They've notched 39 points from 30 games. To ensure they don't fall below their lowest PPG in Premier League history, Lampard must guide the Blues to at least 47 points. While you'd expect them to claim seven points from their final eight games, their schedule down the stretch isn't exactly plain sailing.
Six of their remaining eight games come against teams currently in the top nine, and they also play each of the top four. Their only two encounters against sides in the bottom half of the table come against a pair of teams fighting for their lives in Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.
Where are those eight points coming from?
LISTEN NOW
On this edition of Son of Chelsea, part of the 90min podcast network, Daniel Childs reacts to Frank Lampard's return as caretaker manager and reports that Luis Enrique could be the club's new permanent boss. If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!