Chelsea are two times champions league winners therefore nobody should be saying Chelsea isn't a big team. Not many teams have won more trophies than Chelsea. Just because they were going through some difficult times doesn't mean they're not a big club. An example is Manchester United, they have been awfully recently but still a big team. History can't just be forgotten because it's history that makes clubs big. There are some clubs that are just becoming big recently but the ones that have being doing it for a long time can't be disregarded. Chelsea have a good squad now and I won't be surprised if Chelsea end up winning the champions league.
Anyone who will rate Chelsea as an average or small club probably just started watching football games recently because how will you rate Chelsea as a small club. Chelsea as a football club is 120 years old and in these years they have achieved so much to be rated as an elite club and their reputation speaks volume.
The truth is many people forget about history or don't take their time to go through history that's why they judge with the present, Chelsea is a big team in England they're one of the most successful team not just in England but in Europe for a decade now, Chelsea have won almost all the European trophies i think all not almost and they've been in the EPL for many years and even used to challenge the great Manchester United during their victory days.
After achieving all the records Chelsea has achieved I wonder why one would classify them under a small team. Yes, Manchester United is one of the biggest in Europe despite their recent decline, that's a fact that shouldn't be argued but Chelsea too is another big team in Europe too, they've challenged the best of the best and won them.