From title challenger to top-four contender to reigniting underlying dissatisfaction with the club’s direction – quite a fall for Chelsea. The returning Thomas Tuchel will have seen few of the players he left behind in 2022, but he will still have been reminded of the constant danger of being Chelsea manager.

Enzo Maresca’s formula for success, who previously led the Chelsea project as a safe hand, is beginning to falter. His team showed a combination of impudence and profligacy, battling with a spirited Bournemouth team that was stripped to the bone. It took a stoppage-time free-kick from Reece James, openly criticized by Maresca, whose Chelsea career was blighted by injury and still left from Tuchel’s time, to avoid defeat.

A powerful Chelsea approach created chances in the opening seconds, with Enzo Fernández losing his footing as the goal threatened. Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s David Brooks had already suffered a heavy blow from Marc Cucurella.

Jadon Sancho and Cole Palmer came together next, only for Palmer’s usually reliable left foot to malfunction. No worries here. Palmer’s goal soon came, Nicolas Jackson turned away Illia Zabarnyi, the finish was full of the usual swagger.

Bournemouth struggled to muster their usual energy and Iraola’s selection reflected a squad carrying a heavy load; He could only rely on 12 experienced players, no fit strikers. At 19, Dean Huijsen has become one of these seniors. In terms of the January window, the Dutchman was one of four starters currently linked with Chelsea – Milos Kerkez, Antoine Semenyo and Zabarnyi completed the quartet, with the latter potentially being left off the list after being given a difficult time by Jackson had experienced.

Speaking of which, Chelsea’s hopes of selling the failed Axel Disasi open the door for Josh Acheampong in defense. The teenager is considered the favorite in the club hierarchy. As the club’s PA announcer noted during the Americanized pre-match celebrations at Stamford Bridge – including the kiss cam – the average age of the Chelsea squad is under 23.

Maresca left Christopher Nkunku on the bench, perhaps bearing in mind that the Frenchman scored the winning goal as a substitute when the two teams met in September. Sancho, the provider of that goal, was one of ten changes since the walk to Morecambe at the weekend. These are the advantages of large squads. There was no such luxury for Iraola, who was forced to bring in his only senior substitute, Justin Kluivert, when James Hill advanced in the 23rd minute. This meant that the captain, Lewis Cook, moved to full-back.

In midfield, the return of Romeo Lavia freed up Fernández to make his powerful runs, and there were numerous more chances in the first half. The other side of Jackson was on display after Huijsen was turned upside down by Noni Madueke’s run and missed the chance horribly.

Iraola demanded more energy from his team, but seemed exhausted himself. His shoulders slumped after Kluivert hit the post and Chelsea hit the ball back and Jackson also hit the post.

After 13 shots in the first half and a single shot from Kluivert, Chelsea should have made their recent problems a thing of the past. Instead, Bournemouth regrouped, Semenyo converted Moisés Caicedo, another midfielder playing at full-back, and a penalty was duly awarded. Caicedo’s face betrayed guilt and clumsiness. Kluivert, who scored three penalties against Wolves, conveniently sent Robert Sánchez the wrong way.

As if Maresca was correcting a player who was out of position, Reece James was deployed at full-back and Caicedo returned to midfield while Lavia departed. Chelsea would have to weather a red and black storm as Bournemouth are now brimming with spirit. Too much perhaps? Brooks, almost certainly seeking revenge for the early altercation, escaped a red card – referee Rob Jones was watching the offense on the screen – when he appeared to drag Cucurella to the ground by her hair.

Brooks, sent away by a return ball from Cook, had the shot that left Levi Colwill injured trying to block. Maresca and Chelsea were increasingly in trouble, the Italian frantic and scratching his skull in Pep Guardiola-like desperation as Jackson failed to shut down Ryan Christie and Acheampong Semenyo showed too much of his inner self. The Chelsea-born striker didn’t miss the opportunity.

João Félix and Pedro Neto came on for Chelsea, panic buttons pressed. Bournemouth looked more likely until James’ moment of redemption. Full-time was greeted with a flabby, audible boredom that Tuchel would no doubt recognise.