Chelsea were in red-hot form. They were not only competing fiercely in the league for a Champions League spot, but they had also exceeded expectations in the UEFA Cup this season. Their performances in Europe had turned heads, and suddenly Stamford Bridge felt like the center of English football conversation.
With Ruud Gullit dismissed and Gianluca Vialli stepping in, Chelsea's narrative shifted overnight. The change in leadership brought freshness and unpredictability. Vialli, charismatic and intelligent, was now being widely tipped as the man who could lead his squad to something special that season. The media embraced the storyline — the stylish Italian taking over mid-campaign, guiding a talented but inconsistent squad toward European glory.
