:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16868685/169053179.0.jpg)
Chelsea's third kit for the 2013/14 season has been released, and, as expected, it's an all black number. In fact, it's exactly what it was rumoured to be -- black with silver highlights and without much detailing apart from a couple of underarm panels:
The new 2013/14 @adidasUK third kit is here! More info here... http://t.co/MoTvkNGiO0 #allincfc pic.twitter.com/R8P4YcELPp
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) July 25, 2013
It's not bad at all. I'm a big fan of adidas' black kits (the 2008/09 aways were magnificent), and this one doesn't add too much in the way of... I don't know, weird blue square to detract from the overall look. I quite like the use of silver as well; it's a much less garish colour than the gold that was used on last year's home kits. I'm not sold on the white edging around the underarm panels -- they make the top look like a training bib to me -- but oh well. It's a decent enough effort, especially for a third, and looks better on the players than the leaked photo did.
What I can't figure out is why anyone would want to buy one. Compared to the homes and the aways, which are both gorgeous, this third is lacking a certain flair, and if you wanted an all-black Chelsea kit, you probably already had one. Either way, I'm glad they saved the least compelling kit design for the thirds, and that even adidas' worst effort's still a solid 7/10 job.