BRIGHTON, England -- What did we all realistically expect from Chelsea at the beginning of this season? This was a team with a new manager, one whose previous experience extended to one season in the second tier, where he finished sixth; a team whose best player had departed and they were not allowed to replace him; a team who weren't allowed to sign any players in the summer, in fact; a club whose owner seemed to be losing interest after 16 years of lavish funding.
Even with the ostensibly disappointing 1-1 draw against Brighton on New Year's Day, Chelsea begin 2020 quite firmly in the Champions League places.