This weekend, Chelsea were handed a golden opportunity to get back in the Champions League qualification mix. Liverpool lost, while Manchester United could only manage a draw. The Blues did come into the Everton game on the back of three-straight defeats. But fans were hoping that this would be the start of a turnaround.
On the contrary, this performance might have underlined why Chelsea won’t be qualifying for the Champions League this season. They put in another toothless display. This was their fourth-straight defeat, as Everton won comfortably by a 3-0 scoreline. It was also the third game on the trot in which Liam Rosenior’s side did not even score.
Of course, it is very easy to point the finger at Rosenior. It is starting to feel eerily like Graham Potter’s run at the club. Both started well but it has not taken long to figure out that they are not good enough for the job.
Earlier this week, briefings came out suggesting that Rosenior maintained the backing of the Chelsea board. And that they might keep him, even if he failed to qualify for the Champions League. I have always felt the same. Sacking him now, or even in the summer, would be an admission that the BlueCo think-tank got it wrong again. For the umpteenth time.
Chelsea fans react to 3-0 defeat at the hands of Everton
Journalist and well-known Chelsea fan, Simon Phillips wrote on X after the game: “I’ll be honest, I’ve wanted to back Rosenior but the truth is he’s just another Southgate (and I never rated him either). But we need to keep the focus on the actual major problem at this club right now – the owners and SDs.”
Another Chelsea fan made a good point, as he wrote: “Maybe Rosenior isn’t it, but Chelsea will keep going in circles if the ownership and recruitment structure stay this bad.”
That is something that I have felt strongly as well. As long as BlueCo don’t change the way they go about things, nothing is going to really change.
The likes of Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino showed that they were taking the club in the right direction. But they were shown the exit door, largely due to differences behind the scenes.
In the case of Maresca, he even won a couple of trophies and secured Champions League football in his first season. But when the summer came, he was not backed. Instead, BlueCo continued to bring in unproven youngsters and we can all see how well that has worked out for Chelsea this season.
It is time for change, but do BlueCo realise it?
The most frustrating thing about this entire situation might be the fact that BlueCo don’t seem to recognise the need for change. Most reports regarding them in the media suggest that they are happy with the direction of the club and convinced it will work out.
It is hard to imagine that how they can be happy though. Chelsea have spent north of a billion pounds on this squad and can’t compete with even mediocre Premier League teams a lot of the time.
When other teams like Manchester City, PSG and others have spent that kind of money, it has brought them constant success over years. Chelsea have somehow managed to take several steps back, trying to reinvent the wheel.
