When it comes to football heritage, the name Chelsea pretty much speaks for itself. The Blues are one of the known forces in the League and their success in European competition is in the history books as well. Since its inception back in 1905, the Blues have locked horns with some of the biggest clubs out there.
From low and mid-table finishes to winning the league titles on multiple occasions, the club has seen it all. The Blues have enjoyed the various philosophies of different coaches throughout the years. Among these managerial and ownership changes, the club has given tough competition to the fiercest of their rivals. Be it the European nights or the late League drama, all the Chelsea FC rivals know the intensity that the Blues bring with them.
Through these decades, the club has gained popularity for being one of the most hated clubs in the League and Europe. And the Blues have a fair share of rivalry with other clubs as well. Now, rivalry in itself is essential. It brings out the best out of each team. Over the years, we have witnessed some of the greatest rivalries of all time. From player rivalries to clubs, it is a privilege to be a small part of it.
Being the best version of oneself and leaving everything on the pitch; is all it is about. From intensity to focus, rivalries inspire us and motivate us to push forward. It goes without saying that it gives us a sense of unification among the club and the fans. In this post today, we will take a look at the top 5 Chelsea Rivals.
Ranking Factors for Chelsea Rivals
Chelsea’s rivalries are shaped by decades of intense clashes, unforgettable moments, and passionate fan involvement. To rank the fiercest rivals, we’ve considered these key factors:
- Number of matches and their significance.
- Historical moments that define the rivalry.
- Fan perception and emotional intensity.
- On-pitch drama involving players and managers.
Chelsea FC Rivals: Top 5 in All Competitions
| Name of the Club | Name of the League |
| Manchester United | Premier League |
| Arsenal | Premier League |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Premier League |
| Barcelona | La Liga |
| Leeds United | Premier League |
Also Read: Top 10 Chelsea Managers With Most Win in the Club History
5. Leeds United
Leeds United are one of the oldest rivals of the Blues. Ask any OG fans in the Stamford Bridge and they will convey their hate towards the club. The 1960 was the year that kicked off one of the biggest rivalries in English Football.
Back then it was famously known as Yorkshire grit vs Flash Cockney. It was mainly because of Leeds being known as a ‘dirty’ team. However, back then Chelsea was also known to be one of the teams who brought in strong tackling and aggression on the pitch.
This sort of combination riled up the fans in one hand while sparking chaos in the stadium and making it difficult for security to control the atmosphere. As new philosophy was introduced within the clubs, both of them took a different path. However, many reckon the bad blood is still there.
| Rival | Matches Played | Chelsea Wins | Draw | Leeds Wins |
| Leeds United | 109 | 39 | 30 | 40 |
4. Barcelona
While the first thing Chelsea fans might remember is the match where Overbo single-handedly shattered the dreams of Chelsea fans, their first encounter in 2000 in the European fixture is the one where it all started.
The game was before Roman Abramovich took control of the club. You can say, that back then Chelsea was showing obvious signs of consistency. In the first leg, the Blues have gotten a healthy advantage of 3-1.
On the other hand, the Spaniards had control in the 2nd leg, having 3-1 until the match went on to extra time. However, it all began after the extra time as Barcelona was awarded two controversial penalties which won them the game.
While the Blues have gotten back their revenge under Di Matteo’s short tenure at the club, sealing a semi-final win with a late Fernando Torres goal, which will lead to their first Champions League win in the following final, prior to the fixture, the Club was ‘robbed’ again.
This time it was Overbo who made some questionable decisions against the in-field players. The whole world saw with their very eyes what went wrong in that match. Every Chelsea player still mentions this match as a ‘disgrace.’
| Rival | Matches | Chelsea wins | Draw | Barcelona Wins |
| Barcelona | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
3. Tottenham Hotspur
The Football fans of the new era might think it is Arsenal who cannot stand Spurs, but the fierce rivalry between Tottenham and Chelsea is something that has been written in the history pages.
To give you a simple insight, after a fixture in 2017, a number of fans were stabbed and hit with weapons in the street by Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. It was just the tip of the iceberg of how bad blood was between the two London clubs.
Back then, Chelsea had a dry run against Tottenham Hotspur when they did not win a single match in 20 years. But after that was broken, things were a little in control.
| Rivals | Matches Played | Chelsea Wins | Draw | Spurs Wins |
| Tottenham | 70 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
2. Arsenal
The rivalry between the North London team and Chelsea goes way before in 1930s. While Spurs were not the choice of the Chelsea fans, but the Gunners absolutely were.
While the Arsenal fans were always criticized for not having enough passion for the team and the cause they believed in, the Gunners mock the Chelsea fans with the song ‘you weren’t there before the money.’
As both of the clubs went on to their alternating periods in the 50s and 60s, the rivalry between them dialed down. That was only for a while as when they started to get prominence in Europe and England as the giant clubs, the rivalry went back on.
However, unlike with Spurs, the rivalry between these two teams has always stayed within the pitch.
| Rivals | Matches Played | Chelsea Wins | Draw | Arsenal Wins |
| Arsenal | 76 | 26 | 22 | 28 |
1. Manchester United
There is no denying the fact that the Red Devils are one of the dominant forces in the Premier League and in Europe. However, they are hated by many teams in the League. If you ask ‘Who are Chelsea FC’s rivals,’ the first answer is Manchester United by many fans.
The hate is more towards the fans than the club itself. While the Scousers are known as the deepest rivals of the Red Devils, the fans in West London consider Man Utd as the Chelsea biggest rival.
In most of the games these days, you can expect the chant “stand up, if you hate Man U.‘ From Champions League final to Premier League fixtures, they two clubs have battled it out in the field as if it was no tomorrow. The desire to win against each other has been mutual in every fixture.
| Rivals | Matches played | Chelsea wins | Draw | Man Utd Wins |
| Manchester United | 76 | 24 | 30 | 22 |
Also Read: Ranking Manchester United Rivals: The 10 Fiercest Football Rivalries
Q. Who are Chelsea’s main rivals?
Among many, the fiercest rival of the West London Club is Manchester United.
Q. Who is Chelsea’s biggest opponent?
Among a few clubs in the League, the Gunners and the Red Devils are two of the biggest opponents of the club.
Q. How do Chelsea fans express their hatred for rival teams?
Over the years the gestures to show the rivalry from the fans have dialed down. These days, you will hear slogans and songs that the fans use to display their hatred.
Q. What is Chelsea’s biggest defeat in history?
The 8-1 defeat to Wolves is the biggest defeat for the Blues.