3 Christmas Wishes for Chelsea Fans
"It's the most wonderful time of the year," the song tells us.
But for Chelsea fans, is it really?
Those who follow the reigning Premier League champions have had a tough time of it since May, let alone heading into Christmas. They've been forced to watch their team collapse spectacularly to get themselves dragged into a relegation scrap.
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The team has lost its spark in 2015/16, and with it, the fans have lost their much-loved manager Jose Mourinho.
Given the turmoil they've experienced, of all the Premier League clubs, Chelsea are among those who deserve a lashing of Christmas cheer.
That got us at Bleacher Report thinking: If we could grant Chelsea fans three wishes this Christmas, what would they be hoping for most?
Things have gotten that bad at Stamford Bridge in more recent times that there's an argument to suggest fantasy football wouldn't even cut it right now.
Chelsea fans would be wishing for something more practical than, say, Roman Abramovich signing Lionel Messi in January.
Necessity dictates that lavish wishes are off the table, with Chelsea needing their season to be urgently transformed. We've provided three wishes below to help do that, but let us know what yours would be in the comments below.
Jose's 3rd Coming
OK, so this sort of contradicts the point that fantasies aren't possible this Christmas. But as it involves Jose Mourinho, we couldn't ignore it.
It's at Easter that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but where Mourinho is concerned, Chelsea fans would love nothing more than to see the Special One return to Stamford Bridge this Christmas.
There's a greater chance of Santa Claus existing than it happening, of course. Mourinho was sacked as recently as last week, and the fallout from his departure is still very raw.
Chelsea's 3-1 victory against Sunderland on Saturday may have been a return to form for the team, but it was overshadowed by a revolt from Chelsea supporters.
Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa were heavily booed by the fans inside Stamford Bridge, with placards held before and during the game by some fans showing their distaste at the perceived antics of the players that influenced Mourinho being fired.
One even went so far as to label them as "rats."
Guus Hiddink has now stepped in for his second spell as the interim manager since Mourinho's departure. Given how successful Hiddink proved in 2009—Chelsea won the FA Cup and were within minutes of reaching the UEFA Champions League final under him—the Dutchman remains a popular figure in west London.
He will get the support he needs and deserves, but the feeling of loss that surrounds Mourinho's exit is going to linger for a long while yet.
As unrealistic as it is, getting him back to Stamford Bridge will be at the top of most fans' wishlists this Christmas. Mourinho returning would be a Christmas miracle to rival even the greatest Charles Dickens tale, though.
9 Points
If Chelsea fans have three Christmas wishes, hoping for nine points over the festive season is probably being greedy.
But the club needs them. Desperately.
Chelsea are 15th in the Premier League and still reeling from what's been a disastrous first half of the season. They still maintain hopes of reaching the top four to qualify for the Champions League next season. To do that, they need to find consistency and points quickly to move up the table and apply some pressure.
The gap between Chelsea and fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur is 11 points. A positive Christmas period could narrow that gap, and it's exactly what the team needs.
What makes the festive fixtures so fascinating in England is the impact they can have on a team's fortunes. From a relegation scrap, Chelsea could find themselves spring-boarding their way into the top 10 if results go their way.
The games come thick and fast at Christmas, which also means momentum can be built just as quickly.
From winning a mere five league games all season, there's a possibility Chelsea could seal three victories on the bounce in just nine days.
Doing that is easier said they done. Chelsea entertain an in-form Watford on Boxing Day before they travel to Old Trafford on December 28 to play Manchester United. They then face Crystal Palace on January 3 to round off their festive campaign.
A Little Pea
Chelsea haven't scored enough goals this season, and it's been a big reason for their struggles near the foot of the table.
Diego Costa has been nowhere near the player who fired them to Premier League glory last term. It's clear that Chelsea need reinforcements up front.
Javier "Chicharito" (Little Pea) Hernandez is one of Europe's most lethal strikers right now and is being linked with a potential move to Chelsea in January, per Spanish outlet Don Balon (h/t George Bellshaw for Metro).
Chelsea are reportedly ready to hijack a move from Arsenal for the Mexican.
Chelsea fans would surely love to see this happen—and not just because it would mean getting one over on their rivals in the transfer market.
Hernandez has been a thorn in Chelsea's side in the past, regularly scoring against them while at Manchester United.
Now a Bayer Leverkusen player, his six months in Germany have shown him to be just as lethal in front of goal. Hernandez has scored 19 goals in all competitions for his club. That's the sort of form that would transform Chelsea's fortunes.
We know Hernandez can do it in the Premier League after his five years with United, and given his form, it would be an exciting midseason addition if the club could pull it off.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.
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