When Chelsea secured a 4-4 draw against a formidable Manchester City side at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023, football fans were in awe – not just due to the result but also because of their performance against the defending champions.

It was an end-to-end game with both sides attacking, defending, and scoring in turns. Football enthusiasts were treated to a goal fest, arguably the most entertaining game of the 2023/24 Premier League season so far.

Chelsea fans were particularly ecstatic, unrestrained to say the least. All that could be heard from them was ‘Chelsea is back!’, ‘We are the Blues’, ‘Form is temporary, class is permanent’. In short, they were proclaiming that Chelsea was ready to take on the big boys once again.

However, when Chelsea lost 2-1 to Manchester United on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, in a match where they made the emaciated Old Trafford outfit look like prime Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, questions that had long been kept under the carpet about Chelsea’s ability began to resurface.

The Blues enjoyed much of the ball on the evening in Manchester, boasting a 55% possession against their opponent’s 45%. However, they did little with the ball, managing only three shots on target against United’s nine.

While Manchester United delivered 20 crosses across the two halves, Chelsea managed a quarter of that – five. The script was the same for corner kicks, with Chelsea having four – a third of Manchester United’s 12.

But that is just one game. Let us not judge harshly the only London club that has won the Champions League – not once, but twice.

After the City game, Chelsea played two matches before their trip to Manchester United. They were convincingly beaten by Newcastle United, losing the game 4-1 at St. James Park on Saturday, November 25, 2023, and losing their captain Reece James to a second yellow.

Last Sunday, December 3, 2023, they picked up a 3-2 win over Brighton despite losing Conor Gallagher to a red card at the end of the first half. With this, they showed character and real nerves of steel, pulling off a win with ten men against a team that is highly considered a giant killer.

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The Blues currently lie 10th on the Premier League log with 19 points from the opening 15 matches. They are 17 points off leaders Arsenal. In these 15 matches, Chelsea have won only five and lost six, scoring 26 and conceding 24.

The question remains: Are Chelsea really back, or was it just a mere fallacy propagated by their fans longing for their lost glory?

The writer is the Digital Sports Editor with seven years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media.