Chelsea are fully ready to take the Premier League by storm.The Blues have spent more than £200 million on new players in the transfer window. On paper, they have to be considered title contenders.Kai Havertz is the latest to join Frank Lampard’s vastly improved squad. The 21-year-old arrived in a £72m move from Bayer Leverkusen and looks set to make an immediate impact.He joins Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva in what has been a remarkable window for the west London outfit.
It’s clear that Chelsea, who finished fourth last season, are eyeing Premier League glory. They finished 33 points behind Liverpool but these signings will ensure the gap isn’t so vast next time.
And if all of the new signings settle, there’s every chance that the Blues will be back on top.
Chelsea's season simulated on FM
Chelsea’s season begins at Brighton on September 14 and fans can’t wait to see their new stars in action.
But perhaps Football Manager will give a glimpse into how Lampard’s new attackers will get on in the Premier League.
football.london recently simulated Chelsea’s 2020/21 season with Havertz, Werner and Ziyech in the side. Chilwell and Silva are left out as neither had signed when the simulation was run.
football.london’s report of the simulation focuses on Havertz’s performances, so let’s see how he did individually first.
Some of the youngster’s standout attributes in Football Manager 2020 include his composure (19 out of 20), first touch (18), vision (18) and technique (17).
Havertz’s 2020/21 season
Havertz made an impact early on, scoring against Liverpool in a vital 2-1 win against the reigning champions in late September. Ziyech also scored.
The young attacker also found the net against Man United in January 2021, but a late Daniel James goal secured all three points for the Red Devils.
In a five-goal thriller against Arsenal in February, Havertz, Ziyech and Werner all managed to get on the scoresheet.
Havertz’s biggest contribution came in late May though. Having exited the Champions League at the group stage, Chelsea went on to set up a meeting with Lyon in the Europa League final.
The German scored their opening goal and Callum Hudson-Odoi added a second in a 2-1 win.
Havertz’s total 2020/21 stats
- 54 appearances
- 17 goals (11 in the Premier League)
- 14 assists
Impressive numbers from Havertz. Only Werner (19 goals) scored more goals than him in the league.
The £72m man also provided eight assists and created 71 chances in 35 league appearances.
Chelsea's best XI
Havertz was often deployed as a box-to-box midfielder in the simulation. It looks quite strange to see him next to N'Golo Kante in the line-up.
Chelsea's Premier League performance
With Havertz, Werner and Ziyech in the team, Chelsea were title contenders.
In the end, just two points separated the three teams at the top of the table.
But unfortunately for the Blues, it was Man City who came out on top.
Chelsea finished on 84 points, one behind Man United and two behind Man City.
Still, Chelsea want to be title contenders again and that's what they were in the simulation.
And a European trophy would certainly help to soften the blow of missing out on the title.