The Group Chat: Chelsea’s Poor Start, Brighton For UEL Glory?

In the latest episode of the Group Chat via our partners at Betfair, the likes of Alan McInally, Will Perry and Sam Rosbottom discuss some of the current trending topics in world football.

Here, they discuss Chelsea's poor start to the 2023/24 season, as well as Brighton's chances of winning the UEFA Europa League, while also delivering the Group Chat Acca with all proceeds going to the National MS Society and Alzheimer's Society should they win.

Despite spending just over £1bn on players under the ownership of Todd Boehly, Chelsea have struggled so far during the 2023/24 season and somehow find themselves two points worse off than they did after five games in the 2022/23 campaign.

The Blues' solitary Premier League win came at the expense of Luton Town at Stamford Bridge as summer signing Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal for the club while Raheem Sterling bagged a brace, this had led many to believe that perhaps this could be another troubled season for the side from the capital city.

Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that his young side perhaps needs more time to prove themselves, but, under the ownership of Boehly, the Blues have already had five different coaches manage them when including the Argentinian, having seen Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard all take a place in the dugout at Stamford Bridge.

Last season, Brighton were the surprise package in the Premier League as the Seagulls earned a stunning sixth-place finish, accumulating a total of 62 points, their best-ever finish in the top-flight and in reward, seeing them qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

Many predicted that Roberto De Zerbi’s men would find last campaign’s success story difficult to replicate, especially following the departures of the likes of Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo and Alexis MacAllister, however, they have come flying out of the blocks with four wins from five matches in the 2023/24 Premier League season, including back to back 3-1 victories over Newcastle and Manchester United.

Interestingly, the Albion have been drawn in Group B alongside AEK Athens, Ajax and Marseille, a tricky group, but, one that will represent a good challenge for the South Coast club. At present, they are priced at 10/1 (3rd favourites) behind only Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool to win the Europa League final in Dublin, interestingly seeing them have shorter odds than the likes of Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma.

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