The 2025/26 campaign closed as a clear backward step for Chelsea, a season defined by inconsistency on the pitch and rising unrest off it. Fans staged vocal protests over the club’s direction, though that anger eased somewhat with the news that Xabi Alonso will be the next manager.

João Pedro was the clearest positive. He finished with 20 goals across all competitions and shouldered most of the creative and finishing burden, particularly during the difficult period under Liam Rosenior. Pedro’s 20 goals (15 in the Premier League, five in cups) contrasted sharply with the limited returns of other summer additions.

Jamie Gittens produced the season’s single unforgettable moment away at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, scoring a stunning trivela half-volley in the 89th minute and adding two assists in that match. It was, however, an isolated flash in an otherwise disappointing debut season that yielded just one goal.

One high point arrived in November when Enzo Maresca’s side beat Barcelona 3–0 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea registered 56% possession, outshot Barcelona 15 to five and limited the eventual La Liga champions to nine touches in the Chelsea box while registering 35 touches in their opponent’s area. That display suggested potential that the rest of the season failed to build on.

The summer window produced mixed results. João Pedro emerged as the standout signing, while transfers such as Liam Delap failed to make equivalent impact. Spending under BlueCo, following the Club World Cup win, did not deliver the sustained reinforcement required, and the club did not sufficiently respond to Enzo Maresca’s plea for a new centre back after Levi Colwill’s knee injury.

Jorrel Hato was a rare bright spot in defence. The Dutch defender, signed from Ajax, overcame a slow start to be one of the better performers in the first half of 2026, deputising at both centre back and left back and looking a promising 20-year-old prospect.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League, exited the Champions League in the round of 16 and reached the FA Cup final. The appointment of Alonso brings hope, but the club’s hierarchy and recruitment will face intense scrutiny ahead of 2026/27.

Chelsea closed the 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland, a result that confirmed the Blues would not play European soccer next season. Cole Palmer reduced the deficit soon after the opener and briefly offered hope, but Wesley Fofana’s sending-off left Chelsea with 10 men for the final half hour and effectively ended any realistic comeback.

Sunderland secured Europa League qualification while Chelsea finished 10th, a tally that reflects one of the club’s poorest recent campaigns. Xabi Alonso will take charge of a squad without European football and with clear structural problems.

The match itself was emblematic of Chelsea’s season. McFarlane’s men applied an aggressive press early and denied Chelsea the rhythm to string passes together. Chelsea’s defence produced errors that invited danger; the midfield was at times unimaginative and stagnant; and an attack that has struggled for consistency again looked incapable of generating sustained threat. The goalkeeper could have done more to deny the opener.

There were visible declines in the performances of players who had previously been influential, including Marc Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo and Cole Palmer. The other results Chelsea needed occurred, but the team failed to take their opportunity and also missed qualification for the Conference League by finishing outside the top seven.

Match statistics underline Sunderland’s dominance in attempts and quality of chances: Expected goals 1.93 to 0.90; total shots 21 to 8; shots on target 6 to 3. Possession was 45% for Sunderland and 55% for Chelsea. Passing accuracy was level at 83% each and big chances were 2 apiece.

Player ratings

GK: Robert Sánchez — 7.0

CB: Wesley Fofana — 5.1

CB: Levi Colwill — 6.7

CB: Jorrel Hato — 6.2

RWB: Malo Gusto — 6.0

CM: Enzo Fernández — 6.6

CM: Moisés Caicedo — 6.7

LWB: Marc Cucurella — 6.3

AM: Pedro Neto — 7.8

AM: Cole Palmer — 7.5

ST: João Pedro — 7.1

Subs: Reece James 6.5; Trevor Chalobah 6.5; Josh Acheampong 6.0; Liam Delap 6.0. Unused subs listed in the matchday squad.

The Premier League reaches its final day with several distinct threads still to be resolved. Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park to conclude an historic campaign, and how their players respond to Tuesday night’s extended title celebrations will be obvious from the first whistle. Selection changes are expected and could produce either a lively goal fest or a subdued end to the season. The trophy will be presented after the final whistle, with skipper Martin Ødegaard first to lay hands on the prize. Twenty-two years of anguish banished to the history books.

Tottenham face a far more fraught finish. Despite sitting in the driving seat for survival, Spurs remain uncertain of their safety. West Ham are two points behind with a much worse goal difference, which leaves Tottenham realistically needing only a draw at home to Everton to secure their top-flight status. West Ham host Leeds United knowing their destiny is out of their hands, while Tottenham must arrest the inconsistency that has defined their campaign.

Chelsea can still affect their European destination with a trip to Sunderland. With incoming manager Xabi Alonso watching, the Blues can secure continental football next season, whether via the Europa League or the Conference League, the latter having been won by the Blues in 2024–25. Victory at the Stadium of Light would give them a decent chance of making the Europa League, but they will require a favour from Manchester United at Brighton & Hove Albion. A draw makes progression trickier and defeat could prove fatal to their hopes.

Manchester City’s finale at the Etihad against Aston Villa marks the end of an era. Pep Guardiola will oversee his final game as Man City boss at home, and club icons John Stones and Bernardo Silva will also be saying their goodbyes. Guardiola and his players will be determined to finish with a fitting result.

Liverpool will bid farewell to Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson after nine-year spells at Anfield. A win or draw at home to Brentford will guarantee Champions League qualification; a defeat is unlikely to drop them out of the top five given Bournemouth’s need for a seven-goal swing to overtake sixth.

Manchester United travel to Brighton with nothing riding on the result except Bruno Fernandes’ individual chase. “The Portuguese playmaker, who was named Premier League Player of the Season on Saturday, is hunting down the division’s assist record. Having tied with Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry last time out, one more assist on the south coast will take his tally to an unprecedented 21 for the season.”