THE VITALS:

Team: Chelsea

Brand: Nike

Era: 2020-21 (Used during Project Restart of the 2019-20 Premier League season, the 2020 FA Cup Final, the 2020-21 Premier League season and the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final)

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This shirt remains in excellent condition with the material bearing very little sign of wear, as does the club crest, Nike swoosh and the vinyl sponsor.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Medium

Pit to Pit Measurement: 20.5 inches

Shirt Length: 28.5 inches 

Made by Nike in their ‘Dri-Fit’ range of shirts which they introduced in 2020; the dimensions of this shirt lend themselves to a relaxed size medium fitting football shirt that could likely also fit a size large.

DESCRIPTION:

Nike’s continued relationship with Chelsea spawned yet another unique and instantly distinguishable home shirt for ‘The Blues’ ahead of the 2020-21 season. This shirt would be introduced in July 2020 as ‘Project Restart’ was in full-swing to complete the 2019-20 season. After the 2018-19 and 2019-20 shirts which were quite extravagant designs; the 2020-21 offering was much more conservative – albeit, with a subtle zig zag pattern which becomes more noticeable the closer you get to the shirt. The stand out feature was the first time use of navy as the secondary colours of the shirt, while the collar was changed back to a hoop neck for the first time since Nike’s debut home shirt for Chelsea in 2017-18. This shirt would also see the club change of shirt sponsors as Three replaced Yokohama Tyres. This shirt will always remain fondly etched into the psyche of Chelsea Football Club as it was worn when they became Champions of Europe for the second time when they defeated Manchester City to win 2020-21 competition! This would also be the last home shirt to be worn by both Willian and Pedro who ended their contracts with the club in the summer of 2020.

THE SEASON:

Despite a transfer embargo, appointing a new manager losing their most prized asset in Eden Hazard, and an unprecedented worldwide lockdown amidst the Coronavirus pandemic; Frank Lampard would enjoy a fine debut season in the Chelsea hot-seat – guiding the club to a 4^th place finish and a place in the 2020 FA Cup Final.

With the 2019-20 season still in flow; Chelsea flexed their financial prowess after the embargo ended by bringing in exciting signings: Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva, and Edouard Mendy, while recent legends: Pedro and Willian would both depart at the completion of their contracts.

The 2020-21 Premier League season would finally kick-off in mid-September, with stadiums still remaining empty across the country; however, Chelsea defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 3-1. The adulation of that emphatic win however would quickly give way to that of concern as they won just once in their next 5 games. Form would pick up again as December drew in, and after defeating Leeds United 3-1 on 5^th December; they would go unbeaten for a 9^th consecutive games to move into 3^rd place and just 2 points shy of both Liverpool and Spurs. A terrible final month of the year saw Chelsea win just once in five to fall all the way down to 8^th place at the end of 2020.

2021 brought very little change as speculation ran fife about Frank Lampard’s future and after losing on 19^th January away against Leicester City 2-0; he would dismissed and Thomas Tuchel would be brought in to replace him. His arrival brought an instant up-turn in fortunes with the club going unbeaten in his first league 10 games at the helm to firmly put themselves in the mix for a top 4 finsih. His first defeat would be a stunning 5-2 loss at home against West Bromwich Albion, but it would prove to be nothing more than an aberration as a further 5 wins in the final 8 games of the season would seal another 4^th place finish.

The games would come thick and fast as the delayed start to the season presented a congested 2020 portion of the season, and Chelsea would see their EFL Cup campaign ended in the Fourth Round on 29^th September.

In the FA Cup, Chelsea’s quest to go one better than in 2020 began against Morecambe, and then Thomas Tuchel would oversea wins over Luton Town, Barnsley, Sheffield United would set up a semi-final versus Manchester City in the second of three critical meetings between the sides in the spring of 2021. Chelsea would emerge victorious 1-0 on 17^th April, however, their quest for a double ended when they were stunned by Leicester City in front of 20,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on 15^th May.

The UEFA Champions League was probably the least of the four competitions that Chelsea were involved in that they would have attached the most chance of wining to, but after a Group Stage draw with: Krasnodar, Rennes and 2020 Europa League winners – Sevilla. Chelsea would comfortably win the group, however, they would be drawn against La Liga champions elect – Atletico Madrid in the Last 16. Chelsea would fortunately put their winter form behind them, and would eliminate the Spanish side 3-0 on aggregate.

A first quarter final appearance since the 2013-14 season drew them against FC Porto, and in the neutral location of Seville; Chelsea would overcome the Portuguese side 2-1 over two legs to set up a first ever meeting in the Champions League versus Real Madrid. After battling to a 1-1 draw with the Spanish champions in Madrid; Chelsea would produce a spectacular 2-0 winning performance in the 2^nd Leg to set up another all-English Final – this time against Manchester Cirty. Thomas Tuchel would make it 3 wins in six and a half weeks over Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, with Kai Havertz’ goal gifting Chelsea a 1-0 win and their second UEFA Champions League crown in the Porto based final on 29^th May!

The notable players that season were:

Timo Werner, Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Billy Gimour, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Emerson, Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Kurt Zouma, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy