By Henry Vinter | 1 June 2056
The confetti has been swept from the streets of West London, the open-top bus parade is over, and the trophies have been polished and placed in the increasingly crowded cabinet at the Drogba Arena. But before the players jet off for the European Championships and Copa América, there was one final piece of business: the End of Season Awards.
Unsurprisingly, it was a clean sweep for the Kings of Europe.
Valera: The Undisputed King
To nobody’s surprise, Nacho Valera was the name on everyone’s lips. The Spanish striker, who capped his season with a brace in the Champions League Final, has been named Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.
His numbers for the campaign are video-game absurd: 40+ goals in all competitions, decisive strikes in the biggest games (Madrid, Spurs, Hertha), and a consistency that has made him the world’s most feared forward. At just 21 years old, he isn’t just the present of Chelsea; he is the future of football.
Dimario’s Masterclass
Manager Calin Dimario collected his eighth Manager of the Year award. Leading a team to 104 points, a +112 goal difference, and 5 trophies is an achievement that may never be matched.
The only blemish—the penalty shootout loss in the FA Cup—likely haunts a perfectionist like Dimario, but to the rest of the world, he has arguably produced the greatest single season in club football history.
The Unsung Heroes
While Valera grabbed the headlines, the awards night also recognized the engine room.
- Golden Glove: Elias Jimenez (despite his late-season injury, his 25+ clean sheets were uncatchable).
- Young Player of the Year: Tony Konneh. The teenager’s breakthrough, including that goal against Villa, suggests the Cobham conveyor belt is still running at full speed.
- Team of the Year: Featured 8 Chelsea players, with only a couple of Man City and Liverpool stars breaking the monopoly.
The End of an Era?
Amidst the champagne, there were whispers of change. Luther Banton, now 30 and scarred by that Wembley penalty miss, was seen having a long conversation with Dimario. With Luca D’Urso pushing for the starting spot and rumors of a new left-back signing, have we seen the last of the loyal servant as a first-choice starter?
And what of Paul Malcolm? The Chelsea legend, now at Real Madrid, was rumored to be in London visiting old friends. Could a romantic return for a “Last Dance” be on the cards, or is that chapter closed?
For now, the squad disperses. But when they return in July, the target will be terrifyingly simple: Do it all again.