Chelsea season is a failure even if they thump Jose Mourinho's United in FA Cup final
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Updated 14/05/2018 at 17:42 GMT
Chelsea's failure to finish fourth in the Premier League means their season is a huge disappointment whether or not Antonio Conte's side win the FA Cup final on Saturday, writes Dan Levene.
Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures from the touch line during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Image credit: Eurosport
As the sun sets on Chelsea's season, there are tough questions for all concerned.
Once upon a time (not so long ago), fifth might have been considered a triumph. This season it felt like a failure.
And while it was only one place out on the expected minimum, it is worth remembering that was an absolute minimum expectation. And it really was required after winning the league last year.
The final day's performance at Newcastle United was abject: of the order of those defeats to Watford or Bournemouth, which seemed to become so routine.
And that has been the problem: without wishing to cast disrespect to lower-order sides: look at the range of teams that have humbled the reigning champions. It simply isn't good enough.
The target at the outset was clear: top four, reasonable progression in Europe, and a domestic trophy.
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Olivier Giroud of Chelsea reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James Park on May 13, 2018 in Newcastle.
Image credit: Eurosport
It has been the same since the captain of this unexpected odyssey set the present parameters of their expectations: somewhat below those of now automatic champions with £200m+ a season to spend; but above those with no realistic expectation of glory.
Chelsea's two-in-four record of Premier League titles can't, realistically, be expected to be the norm going forward.
And so the cloth is cut.
The club has not presented it's coach with enough resources to win the league in 2018 – as no club, barring one, could have done.
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Eden Hazard
Image credit: PA Sport
It was afforded that garland in 2017 (and for that matter in 2015), because the side that should now expect to be utterly monopolising silverware failed to turn up.
(As they did in 2016 – alongside Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal, much to Leicester City's historic delight).
However, there was more than enough there this time to secure a top four finish, and the lack of that will ultimately be the measure by which the present boss is judged.
A Chelsea great, many (myself included) would call a legend, this week responded to my question about the next manager of the club.
“Does it matter?” the adept comeback.
The answer to the rhetorical question is that it does, and it doesn't.
Antonio Conte massively outstripped expectations by winning the title in his first year. And he seriously underperformed on those same expectations in his second.
There's a feeling that Chelsea, as the construct of the set-up that has existed for some years prevails, should be able to manage fourth place: regardless of the manager.
There are philosophical questions about whether it is better to have triumphed and failed, than not triumphed at all.
But given the catch-all of Champions League qualification has been missed this time out, the risk of failure this places on the long-term project means the lack of Bully's Star Prize outstrips the securing of it – in monetary, if not sentimental terms.
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Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho.
Image credit: Eurosport
Chelsea, regardless of the club's history, now have minimum thresholds of achievement.
And while I will argue to the end that winning the FA Cup (or any trophy), which the club may still do, is a greater achievement than coming fourth in the league; failing to manage fourth place equates to the failure to deliver a basic tenet of the coach's service level agreement.
Call it Arsene-esque if you like, but you miss the point in doing so.
For the matter Mr Wenger missed was that fourth place is not like a trophy: it is the barest expectation of all clubs at the top of football, these days, upon which actual trophies are to be lumped.
The sun may well be setting on the season; but Chelsea must ensure that it does not set on some longer project of basic expectations.
Dan Levene @danlevene
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