Do Chelsea FC Still Have What It Takes To Challenge for Premier League Title?

This is a big summer for Chelsea, as anyone who follows the club will know. They have to show that they mean business in the transfer market, that they’re willing to pay whatever it takes to put together a title winning team again. Manchester United have now won four titles out of five. For a team that was so dominant under Jose Mourinho, it has been a depressing few years.

What made last season so frustrating is that United were eminently beatable. They were not a vintage side by any means and away from home they looked incredibly shaky. What won them the title in the end was their ability to grind out results when they weren’t at their best, which they frequently weren’t.

This is something that Chelsea used to do so well under Mourinho. Over the past few seasons, however, I’ve lost count of the number of times they have conceded goals in the last five minutes to drop valuable points, especially at home. The mental discipline which led them to back-to-back titles has been lost and they desperately need to get it back if they are to challenge again.

This season is going to be the toughest since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2004. Manchester City will be challenging for the title and I expect to see a stronger and more focused Arsenal, perhaps bolstered by two or three much needed additions, especially in defence.

Liverpool will also be a danger if they can carry on the form which propelled them to sixth in the table under Kenny Dalglish. They have money to spend and look set to make several big-money signings over the summer.

Chelsea can’t afford to miss out over the next couple of months. They have to get the situation with the manager sorted out as soon as possible.

If Guus Hiddink becomes the new coach, I for one will be celebrating. He was superb at the end of the '08-'09 season. The team played some superb football and gave the fans some memorable nights. Who can forget going to Liverpool in the Champions League and rolling them over 3-1? The players seemed to respect Hiddink and he certainly knew how to get the best out of them, especially Drogba. Could he be the man to turn Torres’s Chelsea career around?

Signings wise there are a number of areas where they need to improve. They need someone to partner Torres up front, as I expect both Drogba and Anelka to move on to pastures new. Daniel Sturridge was superb at Bolton and will surely be given a chance to prove himself.

There are also rumors swirling around about the potential signing of the young Belgium Romelu Lukaku, which would certainly be a welcome coup given that both AC Milan and Real Madrid are interested in his signature.

What worries me most is whether Chelsea are prepared to go head to head with United and City for the signature signings like Modric and Sneijder. You can bet your life that Alex Ferguson will be trying to sign at least one of these players and Chelsea need to step up and give him a run for his money.

They need someone creative who can sit in the middle of the park and make things happen. Lampard isn’t that type of player. He’s a great goalscorer and his passing is superb but he isn’t a Messi or a Ronaldo. He doesn’t dictate the pace of the game and he isn’t someone who can jolt a team into life with a clever run or improbable shot.

Chelsea also need to improve out wide. Malouda had a very poor season and Kalou is hardly someone who can take on two men and deliver a killer cross. Manchester United have Nani, Valencia and Park and there are strong rumors that Ashley Young could soon be joining. What do Chelsea have to compare to such strength in depth?

Defensively, things are as good as they have ever been, but I would be disappointed if at least four new attacking players were not added to the squad over the next couple of months.

Above all, though, do Chelsea still have the hunger and desire to be the best team in Europe? Is Abramovich prepared to shell out another £100 million to bring in the kind of players who will make his team genuine challengers again? Should we perhaps come to terms with the fact that we have been punching above our weight for the past six or seven years and that a drop in standards was inevitable?

The next few months will provide answers to all of these questions.