da betway： Mauricio Pochettino's side are an unknown quantity going into the new season, but the Argentine could face a huge task to avoid another calamity

da blaze casino： The only way is surely up for Chelsea in 2023-24 as a new era at Stamford Bridge gets underway; there are plenty of new faces, established first-team stars have been unemotionally moved on, and there is a new manager in the dugout.

Indeed, a summer of unprecedented upheaval reflects that everyone associated with the club is determined to move on from a nightmarish 2022-23 campaign, one that culminated in a 12th-placed finish in the Premier League.

But just how much higher can they go? The challenge facing Mauricio Pochettino is a significant one, and there is an air of incompleteness about the squad on the eve of the new season – especially given the terrible timing of Christopher Nkunku's serious knee injury.

Expectation is undoubtedly tempered, but at Chelsea there is always pressure to produce some semblance of success, season on season. Below, GOAL previews what will be a watershed campaign in Chelsea's modern history…

GettyRealistic expectations

There is a sense of anticipation heading into 2023-24 with Pochettino in charge of a young and fairly exciting squad, but that is tempered by a healthy dose of realism. Chelsea fell so far last season that they have a hell of a lot of distance to claw back before they can be considered anything close to challengers to the likes of Manchester City or Arsenal.

Supporters will be keen so see Pochettino quickly establish a clear identity after the disarray under three different head coaches last term, and following the summer's mass exodus. On paper he is the right man for the job, as his reputation for developing young players and galvanising underperforming teams precedes him.

While it will be fascinating to see just how far Pochettino can take this new-look Chelsea, trophies will not even be a consideration to begin with – at least until it becomes clear just what they are capable of. Given the absence of any form of European football, deep runs in the cup competitions will perhaps be expected, but winning them will be another matter entirely.

In terms of the Premier League, a fifth or sixth-placed finish will be the realistic expectation – and given the fierce competition and the ground Chelsea have to make up, even that would be a monumental effort.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBest-case scenario

That's not to say the team won't be able to achieve more, though. As usual, much will depend on the form of Chelsea's rivals because, as last year demonstrated, there is invariably one or two teams who underperform horribly.

As long as they can avoid being one of those sides themselves (yet again), then the Blues be in with a chance of a top-four tilt come the latter stages of the season. It will be very, very tough, though, with the likes of Newcastle, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool also likely vying for two places behind Man City and Arsenal.

Getty ImagesWorst-case scenario

Chelsea have very recent experience of the worst-case scenario if things go awry. Pochettino is widely expected to raise standards at all levels of the club, but if he should fail then another mid-table finish is not out of the question as the west London club toils through this transitional period.

Although there is still time to do business in this transfer window, there is an air of incompleteness in certain areas of the squad, and while plenty of big-name first-team players have been moved on, Chelsea haven't necessarily added top-level replacements across the board. There is huge pressure on Pochettino to get the very best of the somewhat limited assets at his disposal.

GettyThe MVP

This surely would have been Nkunku's title to lose, but the horrendous timing of the attacker's serious knee injury means he will not feature until December having undergone surgery.

The Frenchman's absence will heap pressure, then, on £106 million ($135m) man Enzo Fernandez to hit the ground running in his first full season at Stamford Bridge. Though he will still be charged with keeping Chelsea ticking over from midfield, expect to see the Argentine unleashed in a more advanced role under his compatriot, perhaps alongside a new more defensive-minded colleague. The goals and assists should follow.