CHELSEA’S run to the final of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup may have caught many by surprise, but it reflects a significant turning point in the club’s evolution following seasons of transition and uncertainty.
Once a dominant force under Roman Abramovich—clinching the UEFA Champions League in 2012 with coach Roberto Di Matteo in charge and in 2021 led by Thomas Tuchel—Chelsea have in recent years found themselves in unfamiliar territory.
Despite continuing to spend big, the club has had to rebuild from the ground up under the new ownership led by Todd Boehly, adopting a strategy focused on youth, long-term development, and a more sustainable approach to success.
That rebuild demanded patience, but their results in 2025 suggest that Chelsea are starting to turn the corner. The past two seasons have told a story of gradual progress.
Under Mauricio Pochettino in the early months of last season, the team endured mixed results but with the introduction of Enzo Maresca halfway through, they managed to secure a return the Uefa Champions League.
Many believed the former Tottenham Hotspur coach, Pochettinho, had laid the foundation for a return to the club’s former heights.
But the arrival of Maresca exceeded expectations. His promising league-run in the first months of 2025 and the UEFA Conference League triumph were early statement, but their qualification for the Club World Cup final under his watch has truly raised eyebrows. More importantly, it has restored belief.
This campaign has showcased a Chelsea side growing in maturity and tactical discipline. For stretches last season, they even kept pace with Liverpool before falling away due to the expected inconsistency of a young, developing squad. Yet even in that dip, the signs of potential were clear.
Now, that potential is blossoming into performance. The young core has grown in confidence, and key additions like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have proved to be inspired signings—possibly the missing pieces that can elevate them from top-four hopefuls to serious contenders.
The only lingering weakness remains in the goalkeeping department, which still needs attention.
The current squad looks more balanced, more settled, and increasingly equipped to compete on multiple fronts.
The Tuchel-era was a final flourish before entering their difficult rebuild. Now, just two years later, the Blues are back on the global stage under vastly different circumstances. This young and emerging side, shaped by growing pains and careful planning, is beginning to carve out its own identity.
While their route to the final may not have been the toughest, their presence at this stage is still a marker of real progress. Just a season ago, few would have predicted this kind of resurgence.
Their journey has been anything but smooth, but the fact that they now stand on the brink of a global title shows how far they’ve come in a relatively short space of time.
Whether they lift the trophy or not, this Club World Cup run may well come to be seen as the moment their rebuild truly began to take shape.
