Despite their worst start in the Premier League for 17 years -- when they lost at Coventry on the opening day before securing a home draw with Newcastle -- there is still plenty of time for Chelsea to get back on track. In the summer of 1998, Gianluca Vialli's team could only draw their third league game of the season but by the season's end they had managed to record their highest finish in 29 years.
Third place behind treble-winning Manchester United and an Arsenal side that were reigning champions was a notable achievement especially as they sat just four points off the top.