Former Chelsea striker, Gianfranco Zola, expects the Blues to drop two places in the Premier League table, in Frank Lampard’s first season in charge.
The Stamford Bridge side finished in third place last campaign under Maurizio Sarri, who Zola worked with as an assistant.
Lampard impressed in his first season in management, taking Derby County to the Championship play-off final, where the Rams were beaten by Aston Villa.
Zola however believes Lampard, who is working under a transfer ban, will struggle to guide Chelsea to a top-four finish.
He told beIN Sports: “It will be very close.
“I think it will be a real fight for the final Champions League spot.”
Chelsea begin their 2019/2020 campaign on Sunday, with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, who finished sixth last season.
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