Placing 10th in the Premier League, and sacking our most coveted manager last season makes it easy to see how the future of The Blues can only improve going forward.
The fact our Special One then made the trip to Manchester, to our dear rivals, United, only added to the anguish of Blues fans across the world.
Yes, the signing of Antonio Conte lifted the spirits, as did the signing of Captain, leader, legend John Terry on a new one-year contract extension.
However, it is not this that is most giving me the most optimism when looking at our chances next season.
Eden Hazard’s rejuvenated performances, highlighted by a stunning individual display against Hungary to take his side into a mouth watering clash against Wales on Friday, is the main reason for my excitement.
His story of the last year has reinforced the famous cliche, ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’.
The way he drifted past defenders, brushed off tackles, and beautifully found Batshuayi for the vital goal against Hungary, as well as scoring a stunning solo goal himself, confirmed to me that the man was back.
The man who led us to a Premier League, League Cup double the season before last.
The man once compared to Ronaldo and Messi.
The man who is up their with the very best.
Despite this, he is also a man who quite simply has a point to prove next season.
He needs to prove he is world class. Genuinely world class. Not a good player. Not a one/two season wonder. But instead a player who can challenge the likes of Neymar and Gareth Bale to become the future face of the Ballon D’or when the unthinkable happens, and the magicians of Cristiano and Lionel drop their performances, and arrive back on planet Earth.
He need to produce week in, week out.
Score more goals, beat more men, and turn up in more big matches.
Indeed, Conte seems the perfect man to support Hazard, and our Chelsea team, in their quest to return to the glory days.
Italy’s performances at Euro 2016 were superb, excluding the defeat by Ireland, showing that even with average players, our future coach has the tactical nous to win against the best, expertly shown with a fantastic 2-0 win over Spain.
Therefore, with Hazard’s finding of form, and Conte’s obviously brilliant managerial skills, the new season has the capability to be a special one, that is as long as we do what we know is hard to do, and beat the man we once called our special one, as well as their City rivals, and a young Spurs team brimming with talent.
It certainly will be tough, but a fifth Barclays Premier League title cannot be unreachable, and with our wonder winger from Belgium, and bloody nosed Italian, anything is possible.
