Chelsea are preparing for a demanding January schedule as they look to stabilise their season following the departure of head coach Enzo Maresca.
The Blues are competing on four fronts and face little room for error as fixtures pile up in the coming weeks. Their immediate challenge is a Premier League trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to face defending champions Manchester City.
That clash will be followed by a gruelling run of London derbies, with Chelsea set to face Fulham, Crystal Palace, Brentford and West Ham both home and away before the end of the month. The congested calendar will test squad depth and consistency as the club attempts to maintain momentum in domestic competition.
Chelsea also remain active in the cup competitions. They travel to Charlton Athletic for an FA Cup third-round tie and will take on Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, a fixture that carries significant weight for silverware ambitions.
In Europe, the Blues face two decisive Champions League matches — hosting Pafos before travelling to Italy to face Napoli. Victory in both encounters is seen as vital if Chelsea are to avoid the play-off round and secure a top-eight finish in the league phase.
Despite recent instability, Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League standings. That position could still be enough to earn qualification for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League, depending on how English clubs perform in Europe this season.
With pressure mounting and a packed fixture list ahead, January is shaping up to be a defining period for Chelsea’s campaign.
