Fansided

Preseason Premier League interesting rankings

By Michael Harshbarger

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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SINGAPORE – JULY 25: N´golo Kante of Chelsea runs with the ball during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea FC at National Stadium on July 25, 2017 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
SINGAPORE – JULY 25: N´golo Kante of Chelsea runs with the ball during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea FC at National Stadium on July 25, 2017 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

3. Chelsea

Remember how I called them boring-ass Chelsea at the beginning? Yeah, that’s not exactly true. I mean, the Diego Costa drama is interesting enough on its own. The defending champs are trying to get rid of the petulant striker but haven’t managed it yet.

Chelsea seem confident of finally offloading Costa as evidenced by their £70 million purchase of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid. Among the six players that have left Stamford Bridge, Nemanja Matic, who moved to Manchester United, will be the hardest to replace. To plug that hole, Antonio Conte scooped up Tiemoue Bakayoko. The 22-year-old played a major part in Monaco’s surprise run to the Ligue 1 title last season, and in their equally surprising showing in the Champions League. He has all the makings of a world-class central midfielder.

Chelsea have won two of the last three Premier League titles. Last season, the year they didn’t win the title, they finished in an unfathomable 10th place. But it was a blessing in disguise for last season’s title run as the Blues didn’t have to worry about European competition and were able to focus all their attention and energy on domestic competitions.

Obviously, they won’t have the same luxury in 2017-18. How will Conte respond to the demands heaped on his squad by participating in the Champions League? He certainly has the horses to fight a two-front war, including last season’s PFA Player of the Year N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Pedro, Cesc Fabregas, Gary Cahll and David Luiz, among others. But the big question is whether or not he can develop an effective squad rotation plan.