Enzo Fernandez spent nicely over two minutes on the remaining whistle, staring aimlessly at a sparsely stuffed away part of the Amex Stadium, as Chelsea followers vented their wrath: at him, on the homeowners, at coach Liam Rosenior, at anybody inside shouting distance.
The Argentina worldwide, a World Cup winner, stood immobile, save for the occasional clearing of the throat, as if he didn’t know what to do. It mirrored his show over the previous 90 minutes.
Chelsea have been a rudderless mess at Brighton final night time, losing 3-0 and failing to muster a shot on target.
They slipped to seventh in the Premier League as a result, beneath a vastly superior Seagulls aspect, with their hopes of enjoying in subsequent season’s Champions League now in severe jeopardy. It was Chelsea’s fifth consecutive defeat with out scoring – their worst such sequence since 1912.
There was a particular irony in shedding to Brighton, a well-run membership which were in a position to construct, and rebuild their squad throughout a number of iterations thanks largely to promoting cleverly acquired gamers to Chelsea for round £280million. Former residence favourites Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo have been part of final night time’s shambles whereas Joao Pedro watched on.
Blame for Chelsea shambles mustn’t fall solely on Rosenior
It might be simple guilty Rosenior for the efficiency, his swap to 5 on the again failed spectacularly with Brighton’s intelligent motion inflicting points all night time. Has he made Chelsea higher since succeeding Enzo Maresca, underneath whom the membership have been topped world champions? The reply is an emphatic no.
Nonetheless, it’s inconceivable to not really feel some sympathy for the Londoner. He has proved himself elsewhere as a vivid younger coach however has been dropped right into a dressing room stuffed with younger millionaires on eight-year offers and clearly missing motivation.
The gamers’ ranges of effort final night time made it clear they weren’t enjoying for his or her boss, or the membership. They have been going via the motions.
Rosenior went into self-preservation mode afterwards.
He stated: ”I maintain popping out and defending the gamers – that’s indefensible, that efficiency tonight.
“The way of the targets we conceded, the quantity of duels that we misplaced, the dearth of depth within the group. One thing wants to alter drastically proper now.
“I believe the gamers want to take a look within the mirror for what they put in. You may speak about techniques… techniques come after the fundamentals.
“Having extra braveness to play, profitable duels, profitable headers, tackles, conceding horrible targets. That was an unacceptable efficiency tonight.”
Chelsea mannequin flawed and requiring pressing assessment
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali was within the stands on the Amex and was noticed frantically typing into his telephone after Danny Welbeck netted Brighton’s third.
He could nicely have been texting Todd Boehly with a message that merely learn: “S***.”
Eghbali, Boehly and the remainder of the Clearlake Capital consortium should additionally shoulder a big proportion of the blame for Chelsea’s present failings.
Underneath Roman Abramovich, Chelsea steadily grew right into a European powerhouse, signing elite gamers ready-made for the rigours of difficult at residence and on the continent.
The present mannequin of signing a number of gamers and hoping a number of come off, both to be offered or inserted into the primary group, is uncommon amongst golf equipment that contemplate themselves elite, as Chelsea do. Handing out eight-year offers to assist circumnavigate monetary guidelines can be small time.
Eghbali hinted recently at a change in policy going forward, and Chelsea desperately want some expertise within the squad. Final night time, there was no-one to seize maintain of the group, rattle a number of bones and rouse them from their slumber.
Their subsequent project is Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final towards Leeds. The conflict between two age-old rivals feels a pivotal second for Rosenior, particularly. He has to indicate he can get a tune from this squad, can encourage and organise and, most significantly, get a much-needed win.
If he can’t then Chelsea, and captain Fernandez, will probably be staring into the abysss as soon as extra.
