Jamie Carragher described Chelsea as a “broken club” after their side suffered a heavy defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday. Here, Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol breaks down the problems at Stamford Bridge this season and how to solve them…
Chelsea have been in limbo ever since Enzo Maresco was allowed to leave the club on New Year’s Eve. They took a big risk by appointing Liam Rosenior, who had no experience managing in the Premier League, as their head coach. That didn’t work.
Then they took another big risk and appointed Callum MacFarlane as interim head coach. Again, he is a person with very limited experience as a manager, let alone a manager in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s situation has been very poor since the beginning of February, and they are at the bottom of the Premier League table. They have won fewer points than Tottenham in that period.
During this time, Chelsea had two wins and two draws in the Premier League. The only teams they have beaten in the Premier League since the start of February have been against relegated Wolves and Aston Villa.
Chelsea have lost a total of 13 times in the Premier League this season, more than newly promoted Leeds and Sunderland.
You could say it’s the players’ fault, but watching Chelsea week in and week out, it seems like the players haven’t accepted the fact that Maresca has left the club.
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Watch for free: Premier League match highlights between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest
Maresca was the one who took them to the Champions League and won two trophies in his first season, but behind the scenes things did not go well.
There were problems with his personal relationships with other people at the club, many of whom had fallen out, and things got so bad that he left.
I think Chelsea were very happy to have his back, but in retrospect it was a big mistake to let him go. Because he was definitely onto something and the players believed in him.
You could say it’s the players’ fault, but if you watch Chelsea week in and week out, the players haven’t accepted the fact that Enzo Maresca has left the club.
Kaveh Solgekor talks about Enzo Maresca’s departure
It is a big ask for these players under their current head coach to beat Manchester City and Josep Guardiola (in the FA Cup final). Strange things have happened…but this Chelsea side is at rock bottom.
Carragher said the club was bankrupt and most Chelsea fans would agree.
“Club World Cup victory hindered Chelsea”
Chelsea won the Club World Cup in the summer
I think one of the problems is that we won the Club World Cup. I think that’s why I thought, “I’m here.” Everything we have done, our policies have been justified. We proved everyone wrong. ”Then they continued down the same path.
I think when it came to Maresca, they felt like he was just a head coach – ‘If he wants to go, let him go.’ If he thinks he’s going to get the Manchester City job, so be it.
“He could get the Man City job in the summer if a vacancy becomes available. We have a great structure in place. We will bring in another head coach.”
Unfortunately, they chose the wrong person to take over.
‘Chelsea need a manager with Premier League experience’
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Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry, a look at who could become Chelsea’s next manager
I don’t think the situation can be reversed if the right person is appointed as the director.
I still think a big name manager would like to manage Chelsea and I think they will be able to attract the kind of manager they need this summer.
(Andoni) Iraola is a possibility, but there are a lot of clubs chasing after him. Xabi Alonso would be the perfect choice. There is a lot of talk about players like Cesc Fabregas, but it will be very difficult to lure him away from Como. That would be another risk.
Chelsea need to bring in a player with Premier League experience, someone who can dominate this dressing room and someone who can say to Chelsea’s sporting director and owner, ‘I’m in charge’.
And especially if they acquire leaders and experienced players this summer. Why not bring in someone like Jordan Henderson as a player and coach? He has good leadership qualities. He doesn’t need to play every week, but having someone with his standards and work ethic on and off the field would change the dynamic behind the scenes.
Chelsea need to bring in a player with Premier League experience, someone who can dominate this dressing room and someone who can say to Chelsea’s sporting director and owner, ‘I’m in charge’.
Kaveh Solhekol talks about Chelsea’s managerial changes
Chelsea still have a very good team. They have some world-class players, but they need a new manager and some leaders on the pitch.
I think their (transfer) strategy (of signing young players to long-term contracts) will change this summer, they will tweak it and sign more experienced players this summer.
‘Chelsea fans furious at De Zerbi’s VIP treatment’
Roberto De Zerbi was spotted chatting with club executives during Chelsea’s game against Forest on Monday.
Chelsea fans on social media were extremely upset about the incident. They see this as another sign of what’s going on at the club.
Roberto De Zerbi can come to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea as Spurs play Chelsea in a big game soon, but it feels like they rolled out the red carpet for him.
Normally I would have given my ticket to the director’s box, but it looks like I was given a seat in the owner’s box or the box next to it. This is VVIP treatment at Chelsea.
Chelsea fans were also unhappy that the two sporting directors were speaking to De Zerbi in a place where they could easily be photographed and photographed. At first glance I have no problem catching up with the guys I was working with in Brighton, but the optics weren’t in good shape in the current climate.
But fans jumped on this and said: “What’s going on at our club?” Why are we rolling out the red carpet for the manager of our biggest rival who we will be playing against next week?”
When Chelsea are down, everyone kicks them. Their fans are dissatisfied and Chelsea are in open season. I understand that.
But I’m still going to go ahead and say that if they get the right manager and they sign a smart, experienced guy with character, personality and leadership qualities, I think Chelsea will be right back.
Things can turn around very quickly.
